7 Wonders of Portuguese Gastronomy
Portuguese food is a culinary niche in its own right. While the country has its share of excellent food, such as tapas, a delicious dish prepared with small pieces of raw meat that can be served at almost any meal, it also has a considerable share of weird and wacky food. Dishes like Ovas, a dish of fried eggplant with tomatoes and onions; Bifana, a spicy stew of potatoes, onion, garlic, pepper and butter; and Caldo Verde, a dish of cod fish cooked in vinegar, are staples of the Portuguese diet. Other staples include rice, which is commonly served alongside fish, pork, chicken or beef. Seafood is another favorite among the Portuguese people. It forms a large part of their diet.
Portuguese recipes and dishes are famous all over the world for their exotic flavor and mouthwatering textures. Some of them have even become a kind of a national dish in some parts of Europe, especially in countries like Germany and the Netherlands where most of the population is ethnic Portuguese. There is no doubt that Portuguese food has become widely popular all over the globe over the past few decades. It is a favorite not just of city dwellers, but of those who love a casual and relaxed atmosphere in their restaurants.
Probably the biggest influence on Portuguese food is the use of various spices. Spices are commonly used to add flavor to the food and also to give it a variety of flavors, depending on the type of food being prepared. The most commonly used spices in Portugal are chilies, onions, garlic, pepper, coriander, fennel seeds, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric, and a lot more. There are certain spices from north Africa too, which are also used in preparing Portuguese dishes.
But while the spices are the core element of Portuguese food, you will find that there are a number of other ingredients which have also contributed to the country’s rich and colorful history. Here are a few of the different ways that you will find Portugal preparing different dishes with these ingredients in them. This article gives you a glimpse of these different ways that you will find Portugal preparing their national dish.
Sweets are very important part of Portuguese dishes. All through out the country, you will come across locals preparing delicious sweets using traditional methods and techniques. The local produce of the place, together with the local nuts and oils are also used to prepare these sweets in the most authentic way possible. The major contributors to this type of Portugal foods are almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and a lot of fresh fruits and nuts.
Portuguese cuisine is famous for the various forms of soup that they prepare. You will find that there are a number of different types of soup in Portugal which are being prepared all over the country. For example, there are Espada soup, Ceviche, Mariscato soup, and a lot of other different traditional recipes. While the Portuguese use large quantities of tomatoes in preparing these soups, the locals prefer to use smaller quantities of the ingredient. This is because smaller quantities of the ingredient will produce a more concentrated flavor, and a thicker consistency in the soup.
Portuguese soups are also known as Caldo Verde. This type of soup is basically prepared by blending meat with vegetables. Normally, this type of soup is prepared using beef, pork and lamb together with different kinds of potatoes. In addition to meat, the locals also use onions, garlic, cashews, peppercorns, salt and pepper to prepare this kind of dish. Some people believe that feijoada or Portuguese cod fish is used to prepare these spices. However, in fact, these spices are not used at all, but cameos.
Feijoada or Portuoguata is considered to be the mother of all the Portuguese foods. While the Portuguese used ground beef and pork to make feijoada, they also use potato along with eggs and chicken. The dish that they prepare is known as churn. Portuguese court has a unique taste and people who have eaten it often compare it with the texture of rubber.
