1. Alheira de Mirandela
Alheira is a chicken sausage - one of the cheapest and most popular dishes in Portugal. Alheira was born when the Jewish community was expelled in 1948. Many of them hid in the mountains of Tras-os-Montes, in the northeast of Portugal. To maintain their faith and survival, the Jews had to pretend to convert to Catholicism. One way to hide was to prepare, sell and eat chicken sausages to make people believe that they were breaking Kosher laws (a complex and restrictive Jewish diet). Today, this dish is still sold on any street corner, but it is especially delicious at Cervejaria Bota Velha, a small restaurant that serves the best chicken sausage appetizers in Lisbon.
2. Arroz de Tamboril
Tamboril is the Portuguese name for monkfish. It is not as popular as cod, but it is one of the specialties sold on the coast. It is cooked with cinnamon, garlic, tomatoes and rice, much like a risotto. Because of the rice used, it is also called arroz de tam boril (rice fish). Cacarola 1, in Figueira da Foz, a coastal village 10 miles from Coimbra, has the best Arroz de Tamboril in the area.
3. Bacalhau
Cod, or bacalhau in Portuguese, is more than just a traditional fish dish; it’s a national dish. It even has its own nickname, “the faithful friend,” and is eaten at Christmas. There are over 100 different recipes and versions, but Bacalhau à Bras is the most popular. Bacalhau à Bras is a mixture of onions, potatoes, olives, parsley, eggs, and, of course, cod. Laurentina in Lisbon, a cod restaurant founded in 1976, is one of the best places to try Bacalhau à Bras.
4. Caldeirada de Enguias
Aveiro, located between Porto and Coimbra, is famous for its grilled eel and eel soup. Fishermen in the Murtosa and Torreira (outside Aveiro) waters often season the eel with saffron and serve it with bell peppers. The eel is best paired with a white wine from Bairrada. A great place to try Calderirada is Bastos, a restaurant on Torreira beach, about 5 miles from Aveiro.
5. Marisco Cataplana
Cataplana is a seafood stew cooked in a double-sided pan, served with rice or fries. It is commonly served in the Algarve region, but the fishing village of Porto Brandão is the best place to get Cataplana. You can get there by car, but locals can take you by ferry. There is no specific address, all the places with good Cataplana are in the Porto Brandão area, so you can choose the restaurant you want. In addition to the fresh food, enjoying the scenery while cruising through Lisbon is also a memorable experience.
6. Francesinha
Francesinha is a typical dish of the city of Porto (Portugal). This dish consists of two slices of bread sandwiching steak, bacon, sausage and chorizo, covered with melted Edam cheese (Netherlands) and topped with a mixture of chili and tomato sauce. Francesinha is served with fries and, depending on the diner, can be accompanied with a fried egg. A great place to enjoy this dish with a large size and full of ingredients is Francesinha Café, which is voted by francesinha lovers as having the best francesinha in Portugal.
7. Porco Preto
Porco Preto, or black pig, is an Iberian breed. Porco Preto is commonly raised in central and southern Portugal and Spain. In Spanish, this black pig is called Pata negra and is one of the most expensive meats in the world. Pata negra is salted and smoked using a secret recipe, giving it a distinctive smoky flavor. A slice of Pata negra leg is often served with salad and fries. Many farms that raise this pig are located in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, and that is where you can find a restaurant to try this traditional dish. In Évora, Vinho e Noz is a good choice.
8. Polvo à Lagareiro
Portuguese cuisine is famous for its seafood prepared in the simplest way. This method involves grilling fresh fish over a low flame before serving with lemon and rosemary. It is one of Portugal's most distinctive dishes. Occasionally, a touch of modern cooking techniques is used. A typical example is Polvo à lagareiro, which consists of a whole boiled octopus, then roasted in an oven with lots of garlic and olive oil. This popular dish can be found in any city in Portugal, but the best option is A Tasquinha in Nazaré, a beautiful coastal village 75 miles north of Lisbon.
9. Posta Mirandesa
Posta Mirandesa is a Portuguese dish created by the Portuguese based on the combination of the French steak and the Italian steak Fiorentina. Posta Mirandesa is simply a thick steak cooked over a high fire. The secret to its special flavor is the beef sourced from the Mirandesa ranches. The cattle on these ranches originate from the Trás-os Montes region and are only found in Portugal.
10. Sopa de Cação
In Portuguese, shark is commonly called tubarão, but once it reaches the table, the name changes to cação. The fish is marinated in coriander, lemon, and garlic before being cooked into a soup, which is often served with bread or a cornmeal called broa. Cais da Estação in Sines, on the Alentejo coast, is a restaurant that serves Sopa de Cação prepared by skilled chefs.
Source: migration
