When you think of the typical Lisbon dishes, codfish immediately comes to mind. It is said, in fact, that in Portugal there are as many as 365 recipes, one for each day of the year, to cook and enjoy. It is true that cod is one of the typical dishes of the Portuguese capital , but the culinary offer is much wider and more varied! To know and that every self-respecting meal in Lisbon always begins with appetizers, brought to the table even if you have not requested them, and paid only if actually consumed. Also in summer it is traditional to serve a hot soup, followed by the main course, based on fish and meat accompanied by vegetables and rice. Here are 10 delicious recipesfrom which to tempt you if you visit the fascinating city of Lisbon.
1 – Caldo Verde
This is a soup, green in color as the name suggests, as it is based on cabbage , potatoes and chorizo ​​(not included in the original recipe but sometimes added, especially in recent times). The cabbage is cut into very thin strips and combined with the other ingredients. The soup, very light, is usually served as an appetizer, or as a single dish to be enjoyed as a snack.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner, snack
- Average cost: €3.00
- Main ingredients: cabbage, potatoes
2 – Carne de porco in Alentejana
Meat and fish in the same dish for a very particular recipe, but don’t be put off by the ingredients! Actually clams and meat that make up the same dish and a rather unusual combination, but the result is really very tasty. Fried clams are added to the pork, marinated with coriander, wine, paprika and pepper and all served together with potatoes.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €10.00
- Main ingredients pork, clams, potatoes
3 – Camarao a Mocambique
Photo of Lummmy. Although the name of this specialty means “Mozambican shrimp”, the dish is typical Portuguese and is easy to find on the menus of Lisbon restaurants. The original recipe included hot peppers from Africa , used for the preparation of “Piri Piri” in which the shrimps are dipped. Other ingredients are garlic, parsley and paprika. The dish turns out very spicy, so be prepared!
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €15.00
- Main ingredients: shrimp, Piri Piri sauce, garlic, parsley
4 – Bacalhau
Here is the great classic of Portuguese cuisine and typical of Lisbon gastronomy: cod. The average consumption of cod in Portugal is estimated to be between 5 and 7 kilos! As when pasta is mentioned, in Italy, even for this product there are a myriad of recipes to cook it, the most famous being the so-called Portuguese cod. In this dish, potatoes, eggs and black olives are added to the main ingredient. Different is the recipe for the creamed cod which, in addition to potatoes, includes the use of bechamel. You just have to visit the city and decide which version you prefer!
- Recommended for: always
- Average cost: €10.00
- Main ingredients: cod with additional ingredients according to the recipe
5 – Arroz de Marisco
Among the specialties of Lisbon’s gastronomy, the Arroz de Marisco is a must, a dish full of taste, a mix between the typical Italian risotto and the Spanish paella. The dish, based on rice , looks almost like a soup as it is broth and based on crustaceans, molluscs and vegetables.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €11.00
- Main ingredients: rice, shellfish, shellfish, vegetables
6 – Sardinhas assadas
This is the other typical dish of Lisbon, or sardines , usually served roast, assadas in Portuguese. A simple but very tasty dish, suitable for those who are not too fussy since the fish, in the Portuguese capital, is served with all the entrails.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner, snack
- Average cost: €6.00
- Main ingredients: sardines
7 – Pasteis de nata
After so many savory specialties, the time has finally come for a typical Lisbon sweetness . These are the pasteis de nata, nothing but small baskets of puff pastry with a delicious cream based on cream and eggs inside. During cooking, a delicious layer of caramelized cream is created on the surface. There is a legend linked to the birth of these sweets, which should have been invented at the Belem monastery. The monks later began to produce them also outside the walls and the recipe spread throughout Portugal.
- Recommended for: always
- Average cost: €2.00
- Main ingredients: puff pastry, eggs, cream
8 – Polvo a Lagareiro
This is an octopus-based dish , which is first stewed in a pot and then grilled. In this way the main ingredient not only acquires an exquisite taste, but also remains very tender, fork-proof. And then served with an oil, garlic and parsley based sauce , with a side dish of baked new potatoes.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €10.00
- Main ingredients: octopus, new potatoes, oil, garlic, parsley
9 – Cozido a portuguesa
A not exactly light dish dedicated to meat lovers and the Cozido a portuguesa, a kind of Portuguese cassoeula based on vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, cabbage and beans with the addition of rice and a lot of pork. In addition to the various parts of this animal we also find different versions of chourico, a kind of sausage with a strong taste and morcela, the black sausage made from pig’s blood and farinheira, yet another sausage with flour, pepper and pork fat. It is a recommended specialty, for obvious reasons, during the winter season.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €17.00
- Main ingredients: pork, vegetables
10 – Caldeirada de peixe
Fish-based dishes abound in typical Portuguese cuisine and this stew is no exception, based on different types of fish and shellfish, covered with herbs and tomatoes.
- Recommended for: lunch
- Average cost: €14.00
- Main ingredients: various types of fish, herbs, tomato
Where to eat in Lisbon: best restaurants, typical bars and street food
Lisbon’s cuisine is varied and colorful, but certainly the typical dish that first comes to mind when you think about the gastronomic tradition of the city is cod . Here there are infinite recipes to cook it and definitely many variations on the theme, and it is one of the most popular dishes, by locals and tourists.
The typical meal generally begins with snacks, which are always brought to the table but which are paid for only if consumed. It then continues with a hot soup and goes on with a single dish of fish or meat, accompanied by vegetables and rice.
Typical are the sardinhas assadas, the arroz de marisco and the carne de porco alentejana.
One of the best known typical soups is the warm green , which is a soup made with fried onions, cabbage and potatoes, served with spicy sausage. Among the desserts, the undisputed symbol of Lisbon are the super traditional pasteis de nata : pastries made with crunchy puff pastry and filled with egg cream, which make anyone who tastes them go crazy with joy.
In Lisbon it is possible to eat very well while spending very little: let’s see which are the best restaurants to try.
1 – Taberna da Rua das Flores
- Description : small but cozy tavern where you can taste typical Portuguese dishes, in a family atmosphere
- Specialty : local fish, excellent wines
- Average price : from € 25.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
2 – Casa Pasteis de Belem
- Description : famous pastry shop where you can taste some of the best pasteis in the city
- Specialty : pastries
- Average price : from € 6.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
3 – House of Linhares
- Description : historic place, also reported in the Michelin guide, which often hosts live fado shows
- Specialty : cod
- Average price : from € 50.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
4 – Time Out Market
- Description : indoor market with a modern style, where you can enjoy excellent traditional food
- Specialties : Portuguese gourmet dishes, in a street food key
- Average price : from € 10.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
5 – The Food Temple
- Description : vegan restaurant, with a slow food inspiration
- Specialties : quinoa-based dishes, excellent vegetarian dishes
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
