Portuguese cuisine

Portuguese cuisine is a rich collection of cooking traditions and practices.

It is shaped by the country's Atlantic coastline and its Celtic roots. However, it also shows strong influences from French and Mediterranean styles. The history of the Portuguese spice trade is very important. Traders traveled to the East Indies, Africa, and the Americas. This brought a wide variety of spices to the country. These include piri piri, which are small and fiery chili peppers. Other spices like saffron, cumin, and nutmeg are used in savory dishes. Sweet spices like cinnamon and vanilla are used in many desserts.

Olive oil serves as a fundamental base for many meals. It is used for both cooking and flavoring. Portugal has a unique way of classifying olive oils by acidity. Virgin olive oil has an acidity of 1.5 degrees and is used for cooking. Extra virgin olive oil has an acidity lower than 1 degree. This type is used for dousing fish, potatoes, and vegetables. Some oils have even lower acidity, such as 0.7 or 0.3 degrees. These very low acidity oils are used for making sauces or mayonnaise. They are perfect for people who want to disguise the taste of the oil.

The diet is heavily based on the Atlantic Ocean.

Portugal has the highest fish consumption per capita in Europe. It is also one of the top four countries in the world for this. Seafood includes fish, crustaceans like lobster and crab, and molluscs like scallops. A very famous ingredient is bacalhau, or salted cod. Because refrigeration was not invented when the cod trade began, the fish had to be dried and salted. This tradition has lasted since the 15th century. There are said to be more than 365 ways to cook cod.

People also enjoy caldeirada, which is a range of fish stews. These stews often include vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic.

Meat and poultry are also important parts of the diet. Historically, eating meat every day was a privilege for the upper classes. Pork and beef are the most common meats used today. A popular winter dish is cozido à portuguesa. This is a large stew that can include beef, pork, and various sausages. These sausages are called enchidos. Examples include chouriço, which is a smoked or spicy sausage. Other types include morcela and linguiça. The ingredients in a cozido depend on the cook's budget and imagination.

In the city of Porto, people are sometimes called tripeiros. This name comes from a dish called tripas à moda do Porto. This dish is made with tripe and white beans.

Meals follow a specific daily schedule in Portugal. Breakfast often includes fresh bread with butter, ham, cheese, or jam. Many people enjoy a pastel de nata with their breakfast. This is a small custard tart that is often sprinkled with cinnamon.

A small espresso coffee is also very popular. It is sometimes called a bica or a cimbalino. Lunch is usually a long meal served between noon and 2 o'clock. It is typically eaten around 1 o'clock. Dinner is generally served later, around 8 o'clock. Most lunch and dinner meals include a soup. One common soup is caldo verde.

This soup uses a base of pureed potato, onion, and garlic. It also contains shredded collard greens.

History has changed what people eat over many centuries. During the Middle Ages, most people lived through husbandry. They grew cereals, vegetables, and legumes for food. They also raised poultry, cattle, and pigs. Fishing and hunting were also very common. In the 15th century, Portuguese traders introduced sweet oranges to the country. Many foods were unknown in Europe until after 1492. This was when travelers arrived in the Americas. Potatoes, tomatoes, maize, and cocoa all came from the Americas. Even vanilla and turkey were new to Europe after this time.

Portuguese cuisine also includes a wide variety of cheeses and sweets. Cheeses can be made from sheep, goat, or cow's milk. Some cheeses use a mixture of different milk types. Famous examples include queijo da serra and queijo São Jorge.

For dessert, many people enjoy caramel custard called pudim de ovos. Other popular sweets include chocolate mousse and rice pudding. Rice pudding is often decorated with cinnamon. These many flavors and traditions show how deeply the sea and history are connected to the Portuguese way of life.