12 most outstanding traditional Portuguese dishes
Mediterranean food has a strong effect on Portugal traditional dishes. There is also a discernible Portuguese colonial influence, particularly in the assortment of spices utilized. In addition to black pepper and piri piri (a tiny spicy pepper), other spices include cinnamon, vanilla, and saffron. One of the main ingredients in Portuguese cooking and seasoning is olive oil. Herbs like parsley and coriander are also commonly utilized, as is garlic.
Because the Portuguese incorporated various culinary specialties discovered via their travels into their traditions, Portugal traditional cuisine is incredibly varied. Portugal features regional delicacies made from a variety of meat, fish, and shellfish. Atlantic fish (Gadus morhua), the national food, can turn into 365 distinct dishes.
Porto Portugal
1. Caldo Verde
Portugal is famous for its caldo verde soup. Regardless of the season, you can enjoy it all year round, although it’s particularly popular in the winter. This is a traditional Portugal dish.
Made using a variety of dark green cabbage that is unique to Portugal, the soup has a green hue. Other options are kale or collard greens.
Its amazing flavor combines sausage, mashed potatoes, and olive oil. This is a very tasty, easy recipe with lots of flavor.
Caldo Verde soup
2. Bacalhau
A visit to Portugal wouldn’t be complete without indulging in this customary meal. There are up to 365 distinct ways to prepare the cod fish bacalhau, one for every day of the year.
Cod, or bacalhau in Portuguese, is more than a traditional fish dish, it is a national feature. This Christmas meal even has the nickname “loyal friend.” Though there are as many as 100 variations and recipes, Bacalhau à Bras is the most popular. Cod, of course, is mixed with onions, potatoes, olives, parsley, and eggs to make Bacalhau à Bras. One of the venues in Lisbon that serves the best Bacalhau à Bras is Laurentina, a fish restaurant that opened its doors in 1976.
Cod can be cooked in a variety of ways, including fried, baked, grilled, and tinned. Either way, its flavor is unmistakable. The fish dish “Bacalhau à brás” is one of them. It consists of thinly sliced cod strips with potatoes, eggs, onions, garlic, and olives, with chopped parsley as garnish.
Bacalhau
3. Grilled sardines
In Portugal, grilled sardines are a favorite summertime meal. The streets of Lisbon are always full with the aroma of grilled sardines in June. Lisbon’s most well-known sardine festival takes place during that time. Therefore, this is also considered a Portugal traditional dish.
Sardines are frequently marinated in olive oil, roasted over charcoal, and eaten with rice or salad. This recipe may seem straightforward, but it’s a “feast” for the senses.
Grilled sardines
4. Bifanas
Portuguese pork sandwiches known as “bananas” are so widely consumed that they may be found all around the nation. The “absolutely delicious” sauce, poured inside the bread, has white wine, paprika, and garlic as the ingredients. The cake’s exterior is crisp, yet its interior is tender.
Bifanas can serve as a whole lunch or dinner along with chips and a bowl of soup. In Portugal, it’s also a late-night snack.
Typical portugal traditional dish bifanas
5. Francesinha Sandwich
The most well-known sandwich in Porto, the Francesinha sandwich is quite outstanding and can be found on practically every menu. It consists of bread, ham, sausage, and steak, and it frequently has an egg and melted cheese on top.
The secret sauce, made in house at every restaurant, is what sets Francesinha apart. This is a traditional dish. The best part is that there is no additional charge if you need more.
This dish, which has a ton of meat, cheese, and sauce and frequently with fries, is extremely caloric.
Francesinha Sandwich
6. Piri-Piri Chicken
Portuguese explorers made numerous fresh spice discoveries throughout their travels through coastal Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. A little pepper known as Piri-Piri or Peri-Peri is one of them.
The modern accompaniments to Piri-Piri chili chicken are fries, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. This Portuguese meal is extremely famous.
Piri-Piri Chicken – Outstanding traditional Portugal Dish
7. Polvo à la Lagareiro
Seafood of the Portugal traditional cuisine is famous for its deliciousness. Everyone enjoys various seafood in addition to cod or sardines. You may find polvo à la lagareiro, a well-known octopus dish, everywhere.
Boiled or grilled potatoes are served alongside octopus that has been cooked in olive oil. This is a really tasty, but simple dish.
Homemade Polvo à la Lagareiro
>>> See more: Europe Travel Pass with PTBusrental
8. Porco Preto
One of the priciest hams in the world is Porco Preto. It is manufactured from pigs that are allowed to roam freely through rural areas and consume acorns.
Porco Preto ham, with its unique flavor, has black pigs raised in Alentejo as its main ingredient. Every piece of ham melts in your tongue and goes well with a variety of foods.
Porco Preto with mashed potatoes
9. Pastel de Nata
A well-known and iconic Portuguese delicacy is pastel de nata. This is a traditional Portugal dish. This egg tart, which is created with flour, butter, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and syrup, has an enticing sweet, greasy flavor. The crust gets even more aromatic and crispy by adding a large amount of butter.
Delicious Pastel de Nata
10. Peixe Espada com Banana
The major element that makes this dish unique is the marriage of fish and banana. Maybe a lot of people are afraid to like it when they hear it for the first time.
The most significant fish on the Portuguese table is the black scabbard fish, which is elongated and has frighteningly small teeth. The meal has a wonderful flavor enhanced by the combination of soft and sweet bananas.
The banana variety in this dish is sweeter and tastier because the locals cultivated them locally. Many travelers were quick to praise this dish after trying it.
11. Alheira de Mirandela
The Portuguese term for one of the cheapest and most well-liked foods is alheira, or chicken sausage. In 1948, during the Jewish community’s expulsion, Alheira was born. In the northeastern part of Portugal, in the mountains of Tras-os-Montes, many of them took refuge. Jews had to pretend to become Catholics in order to preserve their faith and way of life. Making, selling, and consuming chicken sausages is one strategy to elude detection by giving the impression that one has violated the stringent and intricate Kosher food regulations observed by Jews. This meal is still served on street corners today, but Cervejaria Bota Velha, a tiny eatery in Lisbon, has the tastiest chicken sausage appetizers.
This meal may still be found on each street corner nowadays, but Cervejaria Bota Velha, a tiny eatery in Lisbon, serves the tastiest chicken sausage appetizers.
Alheira
12. Arroz de Tamboril
The Portuguese term for tilapia is tamboril. Though not as well-known as cod, malabar fish is one of the unique delicacies served along the shore. Similar to risotto—a risotto meal made of risotto rice cooked in a broth made with fish, beef, and cream—the tilapia is cooked with cinnamon, garlic, tomatoes, and rice. This meal is also known as fish cooked with rice (arroz de tam boril) since rice is used in it. The greatest Arroz de Tamboril in the region may be found at Cacarola 1, a coastal hamlet located 10 miles from Coimbra in the settlement of Figueira da Foz.
Arroz de Tamboril rice with monkfis
>> Explore more about traditional Portugal dishes
10 best things to do in Portugal
One of the great ways to quickly understand Portugal is to do all 10 best things to do in Portugal that PTBusrental will suggest to you. Because these 10 things will bring you closer to the landscape, life, culture and history of Portugal. So let’s get on the rental bus in Portugal to do all 10 best things to do in Portugal.
Portugal – the stop on the journey to make 10 best things to do in Portugal
The destination for the journey to carry out the 10 best things to do in Portugal is Portugal. As a country located in the southwest of Europe, Portugal borders the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South, and Spain to the East and North.
This is the country with the 3rd highest Global Peace Index in the world in 2016. In addition, Portugal is also a founding member of NATO and many other international organizations, such as WHO, European Union ( EU), OECD,…
In present-day Portugal, humans have been inhabited since prehistoric times. Ancient peoples such as the Gallaeci, Lusitania, Celts, …, ancient Romans and Germanic peoples (Suevi, Buri, Visigoth) have left more or less an influence on Portuguese history today.
Portuguese territory was then incorporated into the Roman Empire, becoming the province of Lusitania. Roman culture left a deep impression, especially in terms of language: Portuguese originally came from Roman Latin.
Portugal – the stop on the journey to make 10 best things to do in Portugal
Climatically, Portugal is Europe’s warmest country in winter, with average annual temperatures ranging from 8 – 12 degrees Celsius in the mountainous interior. In the southern region, in the Guadiana River basin, the temperature is about 16-18 degrees Celsius.
In summer, in some areas the average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius. However, the highest temperature has been Recorded temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Because of the favorable weather, along with its long-standing culture and rich history, Portugal has become a cultural center visited by many European tourists on their bus rental in Portugal tríp. So let’s join PTBusrental on the rental bus in Portugal, learn about this country by doing the 10 best things to do in Portugal.
10 best things to do in Portugal during bus rental in Portugal
Delve into history in Belém, Lisbon – the first thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
The first thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal is to learn about history in Belém, Lisbon. Located on the outskirts of Lisbon, Belem is home to three famous historical monuments: Monument to the Discoveries, Jeronimos Monastery and Torre de Belem.
The Monument to the Discoveries was built in honor of Henry the Great, who led exploration expeditions to Portugal during the country’s golden age in the 15th century. The monument was designed by the Portuguese architect – Jose Angelo Cottinelli Telmo, along with his compatriot, sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida.
Delve into history in Belém, Lisbon – the first thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
The structure is made from cement and pink stone, with statues sculpted from limestone. Today, the Monument to the Discoveries has become a pride of the people of Lisbon in particular and the people of Portugal in general.
Visit beautiful Sintra – the second thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Our next destination in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal is Sintra. This is a UNESCO heritage site. Because this place has a mixture of a bit of fairy-tale architecture and natural landscape.
Castles, monasteries and palaces feature colorful architecture. This area is located in the foothills of the Serra Mountains. So just a few minutes on the rental in Portugal bus, the bus will take you from Lisbon to here quickly.
Visit beautiful Sintra – the second thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Besides timeless architectural works, Sintra also has lush and shady gardens. You can take pictures here, or take a walk to breathe fresh air.
Soak up the atmosphere at Vila Nova de Milfontes – the third thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Vila Nova de Milfontes is a place that may not be known to many people. However, this place is extremely interesting, so PTBusrental has suggested it to you in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal.
Vila Nova de Milfontes is an Alentejo medicinal resort. Alentejo has countless beautiful beaches waiting for you to explore and enjoy. Vila Nova de Milfontes is located in the middle of the sand. So just walk a little and you can touch your feet to the sea.
Soak up the atmosphere at Vila Nova de Milfontes – the third thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Additionally, in the nearby town there are many traditional Portuguese restaurants and whitewashed houses. You can enjoy your meals at the restaurant and take pictures with the unique “white” houses.
Visit Sagres, Jewel of the Algarve – the fourth thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Visiting Sagres will be our fourth activity in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal. Sagres is a small town on the southwestern tip of Portugal, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet.
This old town of Sagres has become a popular tourist destination for those who like antiquity and peace. If you have the chance, visit Cape Saint Vincent, a rocky outcrop jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Visit Sagres, Jewel of the Algarve – the fourth thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
This place also has a very beautiful lighthouse. Then, visit the fortress built here in the 15th century. Many people think that standing at the fortress you will have an even better view than standing at the lighthouse.
Explore the beautiful Benagil sea caves – the fifth thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Exploring the Benagil sea cave will be our fifth activity in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal. People living in the Algarve have long known the beauty of the Benagil sea cave.
However, recently, the beauty of this place has gradually been revealed to more foreign tourists. Of all the beaches to visit in Portugal, many people consider the Benagil sea caves to be the most breathtakingly beautiful.
Explore the beautiful Benagil sea caves – the fifth thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Participate in swimming or kayaking around from the beach into a small path formed by nature, you will be able to go inside and see the “fruits” of creation.
Soak up the sun on Praia do Camilo – number six on the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Our next activity in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal is to soak up the sun on Praia do Camilo. This is an activity to help you relax and enjoy the exciting discoveries you have made.
Mainland Portugal has 586 miles of coastline, so Portugal has many beautiful beaches. However, Praia do Camilo is a good place for water sports or just relaxing. The sea here is more peaceful, and the sunlight is also very beautiful.
Soak up the sun on Praia do Camilo – number six on the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
To get to the beach, you will go through wooden steps built in the green steppe between the cliffs. This is an extremely poetic scene and an extremely ideal photography location. So remember to prepare beautiful outfits to preserve this moment.
Go wine tasting – the seventh thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
The next interesting activity we do in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal is wine tasting. With a long history, Portugal has a lot of good culture and interesting cuisine. In addition to impressive traditional dishes, the Portuguese are very good at preparing alcoholic drinks.
Go wine tasting – the seventh thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
The most special of these is the wine of the Douro Valley. If you have the opportunity to come here, try a glass of authentic Douro valley wine and admire the vast, vast warehouse gardens.
See street art and party at LX Factory, Lisbon – eighth thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
And the next equally interesting activity in our list of 10 best things to do in Portugal is to see street art and party at LX Factory, Lisbon. Lisbon is a city with a clear intersection of many different cultures because of its rich history.
Therefore, this city is one of the most interesting and dynamic cities in Europe. One of the “hottest” places for tourists in Lisbon is LX Factory. This is a modern art center, home to many different start-up businesses, such as restaurants, workspaces, cafes,…
And the real attraction at LX Factory is the wall full of graffiti. When walking on the sidewalk, you will easily see and admire these unique street art.
A trip to Ilha Deserta – number nine in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
Ilha Deserta is the next beach that PTBusrental suggests to you in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal. Each different beach in Portugal has a different beauty. Ilha Deserta is a beach located in the middle of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
You can come here to see wild marine animals (like dolphins,…). Additionally, your tour guide will introduce you to the birds and animals you see here.
A trip to Ilha Deserta – number nine in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
At the same time, you will understand more about the history and ecology of this preserve. After that, you can participate in water activities here, such as surfing, swimming, etc. Finally, enjoy a seafood feast at Ilha Deserta beach before leaving.
Devour Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon – the last thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
And our last activity in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal is to enjoy Pastéis de Nata. This is a traditional Portuguese cake. Pastéis de nata was created before the 18th century by Catholic monks at the Jerónimos monastery (Portuguese: Moreeiro dos Jerónimos).
Devour Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon – the last thing in the list of 10 best things to do in Portugal
At that time, monasteries used large quantities of egg whites to stiffen their clothes. And the egg yolks they used to make this cake. Later, Pastéis de nata became a famous cake around the world. In Portugal, people often cover the cake with a layer of cinnamon before enjoying it.
You can refer to many other interesting activities to have a fun-filled trip to Portugal, click here.
Join PTBusrental to do 10 best things to do in Portugal on the bus rental in Portugal trip
So we’ve just gone through each of the 10 best things to do in Portugal. And you want to directly do the above in Portugal, so get on our PTBusrental rental in Portugal bus. PTBusrental is a European tourism business.
Join PTBusrental to do 10 best things to do in Portugal on the bus rental in Portugal trip
We offer many interesting private tours and extremely modern, comfortable and luxurious bus rental services. Let us accompany you on your upcoming trip to Portugal. See you on the journey to make 10 best things to do in Portugal in the near future.