Portugal has a fantastic culinary scene, filled with countless local delicacies to delight you. From the north to the south, coastal to inland, the variety on offer here is wonderful. Although the most famous Portuguese treat is undoubtedly the pastel de nata, you’ll discover many more dishes and recipes to fall in love with on a cycling holiday in Portugal.
The country puts a strong emphasis on local ingredients, meaning every town and village offers something different. Along the Atlantic coast, sardines, seabass, squid and prawns are expertly prepared, often with just lemon and olive oil to bring out their freshness. Further inland, meat like chicken and pork becomes more common, served in hearty stews or alongside potatoes cooked to perfection. Read on to discover the best of Portugal’s food and wine.
Port
Synonymous with Portugal and the city of Porto, Port is a wine like no other. Sweet, rich and ever so sumptuous, it’s the perfect sip at the end of your meal. Made exclusively in the Douro Valley, the history of Port is tied intricately to the history of the region. Interestingly, it was the English and their insatiable appetite for this wine that helped foster the thriving wine industry in northern Portugal we see today.
Full-bodied, the wine perfectly accompanies the black pork dishes found on the menu of inland Portugal. Although there are countless variations, including white and rose Port, the most common is the ruby variety, named for its deep colour and even deeper flavour. Take a sip of this delightful wine on your next Portuguese escape.
Bacalhau à Brás
A classic staple in Portuguese cuisine is Bacalhau à Brás, a delicious dish made from shredded salt cod, onions, thinly sliced potato, egg, and garnished with black olives. Wonderfully buttery, this dish is perfect alongside a crisp white wine, preferably from the Alentejo region in the south. Salt cod has been used in Portuguese for centuries, made from preserved Atlantic cod found all along the coastline. Versatile and easy to store, it’s no wonder the beloved ingredient is still popular today.
There are many variations of Bacalhau, from simple grilled versions of the salt cod, to the decadent and creamy Bacalhau com natas (cream is added to the mix for an almost soufflé texture). The secret ingredient to Bacalhau à Brás is the delicious olive oil, most likely made locally, that completes the recipe.
Chicken Piri Piri
Wildly popular internationally, the piri piri spice was brought to the global stage as a result of the Portuguese Empire. With routes in southern Africa, the delicious combination of the piri piri pepper alongside garlic, lemon and parsley has catapulted this dish to stardom. In Portugal, it is one of the most beloved dishes especially amongst visitors. Walking down the cobble stone streets, the spicy aroma will very likely greet you as you round a corner, with restaurants and cafes cooking this dish in huge open grills beneath the always sunny sky.
Black Pork
In the west of Iberia, the most sought after and famous animal is the black pig, raised beneath the oak trees that produce its food, acorns. Adding a nuttiness to any dish it’s added to, black pork is prepared in a hundred different ways in Portugal. One of the most delicious is simply grilling it with sea salt. Time and time again, the Portuguese showcase simple styles of cooking that bring out the natural freshness and flavours of the produce. For an extra treat, why not have a healthy portion of chips to accompany the pork – the perfect fuel for a day spent exploring.
Marinated Carrots, Pate, and Bread
When you sit down for any meal in Portugal you will of course be greeted with fresh bread and a selection of delightful tasters. Not only does this sate your appetite before the starters come, but you have an accompaniment to your wine at the very beginning of your meal. Typically, every restaurant will always have butter and bread, but it can vary between regions.
The south of Portugal had more of a Moroccan influence than the north, meaning dishes like marinated carrots are often found more there, but not exclusively. Fresh and packed with garlic, these carrots are always fought over, drizzled with olive oil, lemon, and coriander. Alongside them, sardine pate reigns king in Portugal, where a thin spread on perfectly baked bread will make you excited for the meal to come.
Grilled Fish
When it comes to coastal Portugal, every chef is worthy of a Michelin star when they cook seafood. With the bountiful Atlantic coast always to its west, restaurants source their fish fresh that day, brought in by the local fishermen. From sea bream and red snapper, to Portuguese favourites like corvina and choco (sea bass and cuttlefish), the selection is incredible.
Fish in Portugal will always be grilled to absolute perfection, served with lemon and sea salt. Thanks to the freshness of the produce, this is all that’s needed for a gourmet experience like no other. With buttery boiled potatoes, chickpeas and the most delicious tomatoes you’ll ever have, a meal like this is hard to beat.
If you’d like to learn more about the best food and wine in Portugal, call our cycle experts on 020 7471 7760.