Pork and beef are the most common meats eaten in the country, with plenty of traditional dishes featuring both. Some of the most popular traditional dishes in Portugal include:

• Caldo Verde, an iconic soup made with a cabbage mostly only found in Portugal, chourico sausage, potato and local olive oil.
• Bacalhau, or Portuguese codfish, a treasured dish that can be prepared in over 365 ways. You can enjoy this salted codfish grilled, fried, baked and more, and it’s often combined with other foods such as eggs, potatoes, and vegetables.
• Pastel de Nata, the famous desert, is a sweet egg custard tart flavoured with cinnamon, sugar and plenty of butter.
• Polvo à la lagareiro is a delicious octopus dish that’s cooked and flavoured with a generous helping of Portuguese olive oil.

A variety of soups are enjoyed year-round in Portugal, and although these often feature multiple kinds of meat, most places also offer vegetarian or vegan options that contain plenty of vegetables and spices.

Other options

Other traditional cuisines can also be adapted to suit different diets, especially in the major cities. As you would expect, there are also plenty of options other than traditional Portuguese cuisine available. You’ll be able to find plenty of restaurants serving other ethnic cuisines such as Italian, Indian, Chinese and more. Supermarkets, cafes and restaurants also sell food you’d find at home, so you can enjoy a mixture of the native cuisine along with your own favourites.