The 21 renowned culinary specialties were found, after a panel of notables have selected three dishes for each of seven categories – Starters, Soups, Seafood, Fish, Meat, Hunting and Sweets – there is at least one finalist from each of the ten administrative regions.

The vote (on the website, via Facebook, by phone or by sending SMS) runs until September 7th and the winners will be determined by the largest number of votes, regardless of category. However, the rules specify that there shall be elected more than two “Wonders” by region. The end result will be announced in a show to be held in Santarém and broadcast live on RTP1.

Starters

Alheira de Mirandela – Trás os Montes e Alto Douro

This one is jiddish dish. During the times if Inquisition, many jews were forced to convert to Christianism. To keep their traditions undisturbed, they created a look a like sausage made of bread and chicken to fool those checking on them to see if they were in fact christians.

Paste de Bacalhau – Lisboa e Setúbal

A small, spoon made ball of cod, eggs and parsley. It goes very well with a cold beer, like Super Bock.

Queijo da Serra – Serra da Estrela

It is made of cow and goat’s milk and it can be creamy or hard. Either way it’s a delicious portuguese cheese.

Soups

Caldo Verde -Entre Douro e Minho

A portuguese table without a soup is mot a portuguese table. This one is from the north of Portugal and is made with potatoes and small cut green cabbage. It is served with a slice or two of dry sausage.

Açorda à Alentejana – Alentejo

A very traditional soup made of bread and cilantro with a poached egg on it.

Sopa da Pedra – Estremadura und Ribatejo

This soup was created by a hungry monk that, as no one wanted to give him something to eat, he asked for a pot with hot water, because then he would be able to make a stone soup. This awoke the curiosity of the people who immediately gave him the pot with water. Diese Suppe unterliegt eine alte Geschichte die von einem hungrigen Mönch erzählt. Als kein Mensch ihHe the asks if there isn’t a leaf or two of cabbage as this would drastically improve the soup’s quality, and in this way he gets all the necessary ingredients which make a soup.

Seafood

Ameijoas à Bulhao Pato – Lisboa e Setúbal

Clams in a closed pot with cilantro. Simply wonderful!

Arroz de Marisco – Estremadura e Ribatejo

Rice with seafood. It almost looks like a soup, because there is more sauce. We call this tipe of cooked rice “malandrinho” as it tensds to “run away” from the dish.

Xarém de Conquilhas – Algarve

This is a once poor people’s food. Made of cheap corn flour and easy to find clams, was particulary used during the winter to feed big family. Today you can taste it in any good restaurant. Olhão is famous for it.

Fish

Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá – Entre Douro e Minho

There are 365 ways (or more) to eat cod in Portugal. We love it and so is our fantasy in creating different dishes with it. Here it is sliced and mixed with sliced potatoes and onions. Parsley is there as well as some olives and boiled egg.

Polvo Assado no Forno – Açores

Octopus is another beloved food. Here it is baked in the oven and served with backed potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Sardinha Assada – Lisboa e Setúbal

The excellent grilled sardines can be found all over Portugal’s coast. The best time to eat them is during the summer from June to August.

Meat

Chanfana – Beira Litoral

It is traditionally made with old goat and there wasn’t a party in Beiras that didn’t have this dish. It is backed in the oven covered in wine and best served the next day with boiled potatoes.

Leitão da Bairrada – Beira Litoral

On the contrary, this is grilled suckling pig. If you want to eat the best, try in Casa Vidal in Águeda, Rua das Almas, Alma Areosa, Aguada de Cima.

Tripas à Moda do Porto – Entre Douro e Minho

The story says that when it was necessary to provide the boats  during the discoveries with food, Porto, gave all the good meat and as the left overs where tripes, they created a tasty dish made with those tripes.

Game

Coelho do Porto Santo à Caçador – Madeira

This dish is made of rabbit with a mix of herbs, wine, vinegar. Simply delicious.

Coelho à Caçador – Beira Litoral

Similar here…, but diferent!

Perdiz de Escabeche de Alpedrinha – Beira Interior

The partridge is slow cooked in a pot with vinegar , garlic and olive oil. It is served cold. Lovely!

Sweets

Pastéis de Tentúgal – Beira Litoral

Sweet pastries made with egg cream, they were first created in convents and are for many a real piece of heaven!

Pastel de Belém – Lisboa e Setúbal

These small pastries with a cream filling are excellent with a coffee (“cimbalino” in the north; “bica” in the south).

Pudim Abade de Priscos – Entre Douro e Minho

This incredible intensely caloric desert is made of egg yolks, lots of sugar, bacon and port-wine. Just try it in Braga, where it comes from!

These are just the 21 chosen of a set of 70 different dishes of the portuguese cuisine you should try if you make a trip to Portugal. Enjoy!

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