6 Portuguese Foods Worth Traveling For [Video]

Transcript

Many of the editors here at AFAR would agree—Portugal is an amazing travel destination. And one of my favorite things about it? The food. Join me as I show you a few essential Portuguese foods you need to try on your next trip.

Bacalhau

Bacalhau, or salted cod, is one of the most common foods in Portugal. And nearly every Portuguese restaurant has a version of it on the menu. You can find it baked, grilled, in rice, or as fried croquettes. My favorite preparation happens to be the most popular: bacalhau à Brás. Basically, the Bacalhau is shredded into scrambled eggs with onions and fried potatoes. Delicious.

Cataplana de marisco + Arroz de marisco

As a coastal country with islands like the Azores and Madeira, it’s not surprising that Portugal has a lot of seafood. There are razor clams, mussels, shrimp, lobster, and limpets, a type of sea snail — and that’s just the shellfish. To try a bit of everything in one dish, look for Arroz de marisco, a seafood rice dish, or Cataplana de marisco, a hearty seafood stew. Both are loaded with a mix of crustaceans and fish.

Sardinhas

No matter how you feel about tinned fish, there’s no denying that sardines, both fresh and tinned, are very popular here. Usually the preparation is pretty simple. Grilled sardines served with boiled potatoes or, if you’re at a bar, sardines straight from the can served with bread.

Arroz de pato

Ok, so it’s not all seafood in Portugal. One great example is a dish originally from the Alentejo region, called Arroz de pato, or duck rice. The rice is made with a flavorful broth, mixed with shredded duck, then topped with spicy chouriço sausage and served with orange slices. So good.

Francesinha

Next, we have the Francesinha, which is an over-the-top sandwich made by stacking cured ham, linguiça sausage, and steak or roast beef between thick slices of bread. It’s then covered in melted cheese and drowned in a hot tomato and beer sauce. Finishing touches can include a fried egg and side of french fries. The pride of Porto, it’s both a hangover cure and a ticket to the emergency room.

Prego

My first time in Lisbon, I was so surprised to be served a steak sandwich. For dessert. This little dish is called a Prego and it’s just a thin strip of garlic-marinated beef and mustard in a bread roll. Trust me when I say it’s totally a thing here, and actually a really satisfying way to end a meal.

Pastel de nata

Last but not least, we have the country’s most famous dessert: Pastel de Nata. These small tarts have a flaky pastry shell filled with creamy egg custard. They’re usually topped with powdered sugar or cinnamon. I love how the tarts are sweet, but not too sweet.

Of course, these are just a few of the many, many delicious things to eat in Portugal. We have a few more suggestions on afar.com, and I’ll include a link to that article below. But we’d also love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite Portuguese foods? Let us know in the comments below, and thanks for watching!