Discover the Flavors of Portugal: 5 Exotic Foods You Can't Miss

Locals in Portugal are wonderfully peculiar, and the one aspect that distinguishes them from other neighboring countries, is the distinctive flavors and exotic cuisine that’ll instantly transport you to another planet. Whether you’re exploring the mountains in the north or the plains of the south, Portugal’s culinary delights will leave you begging for more. After all, it’s Mediterranean food at its finest. The fusion of flavors from these 6 foods alone will surely convince you why food is an integral part of Portuguese life. Here’s a list of foods in Portugal you can’t miss..

1  Sardinhas

In Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, you can treat yourself to their staple dish, sardinhas, (sardines) cooked in a coal-fired grill. To spice things up, you’ll also add some grilled tomato slices, onions, lettuce, and bell pepper, to a piece of bread. Then finish it off with a bit of coarse salt, some vinegar, and olive oil, and you’ll never go back to eating sardines out of the tin can, that’s for sure.

2 Peixe Grelhado

Grilled fish is the ultimate experience in Portugal. When the coarse salt-coated fish is placed on the grill, the results are culinary magic, and don’t get rid of that charred skin because that’s where the powerful taste comes from. Plus, the drizzling of olive oil on the crinkly skin is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.

3 Ameijoas A Bolhao Pato

Clams in Portugal may very well be one of the best appetizers there is. The Ameijoas or clams are marinated in olive oil and served in a steaming pot. You can also opt for a lighter sauce to allow the mollusk's briny juices to integrate with the olive oil. Once you’re done with the clams, dab some bread all over the sauce to finish off this incredible culinary experience.

4 Acorda De Marisco

Although the recipe varies according to region, it’s essentially a seafood bread stew that will leave you hungry for more. It’s a hearty dish full of an assortment of shellfish that’s combined with soaked bread simmered in olive oil and garlic sauté, with cilantro and eggs added to the mix for a delicious meal. What’s not to love?

5 Bacalhau

There are so many different ways you can enjoy this salted, dried codfish dish in Portugal. Some may include a casserole of shredded cod with caramelized onions, boiled eggs, olives, and potatoes, while another dish may include shredded cod, fried potato strips with onions, and scrambled eggs. But since the salting and drying of bacalhau can be too intense, you can counter the overdose of sodium with a bit of olive oil.