The Flavours and colours of Portuguese cuisine is a
tribute to the regions that are renowned for their cooking traditions. An artist palette of
colours. No matter how you look at it.
The Portuguese cooking is an unforgettable journey through the flavours and colours of a
fascinating country. Both the position and the geographical shape of Portugal as a country have
dictated its history and culture: perfectly at ease between mountain ranges and seaside cliffs,
field and beaches, pasture-land and rivers, The Portuguese learned to wield both the plough and the
rudder, to graft vine shoots and throw fishing nets, to guide flocks and trace sailing routes. This
double identity reflects in Portuguese cooking: in fact, in the wide range of dishes that the
country is proud of, besides hearty soups and first courses.
Portuguese cuisine is characterised by rich, filling and full-flavored dishes and is
closely related to Mediterranean cuisine. The influence of Portugal's former colonial possessions
is also notable, especially in the wide variety of spices used. These spices include piri piri
(small, fiery chili peppers) and black pepper, as well as cinnamon, vanilla and saffron. Olive oil
is one of the bases of Portuguese cuisine both for cooking and flavouring meals. Garlic is widely
used, as are herbs such as corianderand parsley. Breakfast is traditionally just coffee and a bread
roll with butter, jam, cheese or ham. Lunch, often lasting over an hour is served between noon and
2 o'clock or between 1 and 3 o'clock, and dinner is generally served late, around or after 8
o'clock. There are three main courses, lunch and dinner usually include soup. A common soup is
caldo verde with potato, shredded kale, and chunks of chouriço sausage. Among fish recipes,
bacalhau (cod) dishes are pervasive. The most typical desserts are rice pudding (decorated with
cinnamon) and caramel custard, but they also often include a variety of cheeses. The most common
varieties are made from sheep or goat's milk, and include the queijo da serra from the region of
Serra da Estrela. A popular pastry is the pastel de nata, a small custard tart sprinkled with cinnamon.
Follow us to this journey of distinctive flavours of Portugal and its cuisine.