Portuguese Gastronomy’s Most Iconic Dishes

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Portugal is a country that is totally underrated on the international food scene. This small Atlantic nation, located in the southwest of Europe, has a wide variety of delicious foods that are just waiting to be discovered.

Whether you find yourself traveling through Portugal or at a Portuguese restaurant, here are some of the country’s star dishes that you should definitely seek out and try.

Francesinha

Perhaps Portugal’s most famous dish is the francesinha sandwich, which was born in the 20th century in the northern city of Porto. This monstrous, stomach-filling treat is a sandwich containing steak, various types of sausage, and ham. It’s then covered with a spicy tomato sauce and a fried egg. Yum!

Bacalhau

Portugal’s favorite fish is definitely cod, and you will find a wide variety of bacalhau dishes throughout the country. The Portuguese almost always eat the salt-cured form of this fish, which gives it a creamy texture that goes great with all kinds of rich sauces.

Caldo Verde

Portuguese comfort food can be summed up with caldo verde, a delicious soup that is often eaten in the coldest parts of the year. Containing potato, kale, olive oil, black pepper, chorizo, and salt, this delicious soup is a favorite throughout the country.