Bacalhau à Brás
Shredded cod, straw potatoes, creamy eggs, onion, and olives in one of Portugal's most beloved dishes.
Cod · Lisbon / NationalPillar page
Traditional Portuguese Recipes
An editorial map of the great classics of Portuguese cuisine, with recipes, categories, guides, and paths to explore Portugal through the table.
Editorial curation
Traditional Portuguese recipes live on many tables at the same time: in the family home, in the tavern, in the regional restaurant, at religious festivals, and at Sunday lunch. Therefore, this guide organizes the most representative dishes without treating any version as unique or definitive.
The curation of Empório Portugal values tradition but also recognizes that each region and each cook adjusts quantities, seasonings, and techniques. The goal of this page is to help the reader navigate through cod, soups, meats, fish, breads, sweets, and festive recipes with clarity.
Use this page as an entry point. Start with the classics, move through the categories, and when you want to cook with more confidence, also consult the ingredient and technique guides.
Editorial cluster
Cod recipes
Cod is one of the great symbols of Portuguese cuisine and appears in quick dishes, oven trays, snacks, and festive recipes.
Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá
A classic cod dish with flakes, potatoes, onion, boiled eggs, olive oil, and olives.
Cod · Porto and NorthBacalhau com natas
Creamy oven-baked cod with potatoes, onion, and cream, ideal for a comforting meal.
Cod · National / family cookingBacalhau à lagareiro
Cod steaks roasted with smashed potatoes, garlic, and plenty of olive oil.
Cod · Beiras / NationalBacalhau com broa
Oven-baked cod covered with crumbled corn bread, garlic, olive oil, and herbs.
Cod · Minho / NorthBacalhau à Zé do Pipo
Oven-baked cod with onion, mashed potatoes, and gratin mayonnaise.
Cod · PortoBacalhau espiritual
Shredded cod with carrot, bread or béchamel, creamy texture, and gratin topping.
Cod · Lisbon / oven cookingBacalhau cozido com todos
Cod served with potatoes, greens, eggs, chickpeas, or vegetables, very present on Christmas tables.
Cod · National / ChristmasEditorial cluster
Soups and broths
Caldo verde, açordas, and regional soups show the strength of spoon dishes on the Portuguese table.
Caldo verde
Portuguese soup made with potatoes, finely chopped kale, olive oil, and slices of chorizo.
Soups and broths · Minho / NorthAçorda alentejana
Bread soup with garlic, coriander, olive oil, and egg, deeply connected to Alentejo.
Soups and broths · AlentejoSopa da pedra
Hearty soup made with beans, meats, sausages, and vegetables, famous for the tradition of Almeirim.
Soups and broths · Ribatejo / AlmeirimCanja à portuguesa
Chicken broth with rice or small pasta, simple, comforting, and family-friendly.
Soups and broths · NationalSopa de cação
Alentejo fish soup with coriander, garlic, bread, and sour broth.
Soups and broths · AlentejoSopa de tomate alentejana
Tomato soup with bread and egg, simple, aromatic, and closely tied to rural cuisine.
Soups and broths · AlentejoSopa de legumes à portuguesa
Homemade vegetable soup, olive oil, and greens, simple, nutritious, and very present in Portuguese homes.
Soups and broths · NationalSopa de feijão com couve
Thick soup made with beans, kale, potatoes, and olive oil, with the flavor of home-cooked food.
Soups and broths · National / NorthEditorial cluster
Fish, seafood, meats, and oven dishes
Portuguese cuisine combines sea, pot, and baking dish in hearty dishes closely tied to the territory.
Polvo à lagareiro
Tender octopus roasted with smashed potatoes, garlic, and abundant olive oil.
Fish and seafood · National / BeirasArroz de polvo
Octopus rice with a rich broth, tomato, onion, and herbs.
Fish and seafood · NationalAmêijoas à Bulhão Pato
Clams opened in olive oil with garlic, coriander, lemon, and fragrant sauce.
Fish and seafood · Lisbon / NationalArroz de marisco
Brothy rice with shrimp, mussels, squid, and seafood broth.
Fish and seafood · Portuguese coastCozido à portuguesa
Hearty dish of meats, sausages, vegetables, and broth, served on a generous platter.
Meats and oven dishes · NationalArroz de pato
Oven-baked rice made with shredded duck, rich broth, and slices of chorizo.
Meats and oven dishes · National / NorthCarne de porco à alentejana
Marinated pork, fried and served with clams, potatoes, and coriander.
Meats and oven dishes · Alentejo / AlgarveLeitão à Bairrada
Roasted piglet with crispy skin, seasoned with garlic and pepper, inspired by the Bairrada tradition.
Meats and oven dishes · BairradaEditorial cluster
Sweets, breads, and desserts
Portuguese sweets are marked by eggs, sugar, almonds, cinnamon, doughs, and convent or regional traditions.
Pastel de nata
Crispy puff pastry tartlet with egg yolk and milk cream, toasted in the oven.
Sweets and desserts · Lisbon / NationalPão de ló
Portuguese cake made with eggs, sugar, and flour, in dry or creamy versions.
Sweets and desserts · North / BeirasOvos moles de Aveiro
Sweet made with egg yolks and sugar syrup, traditionally served in thin wafers.
Sweets and desserts · AveiroQueijadas de Sintra
Small tarts filled with fresh cheese, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon.
Sweets and desserts · SintraTravesseiros de Sintra
Puff pastry filled with almond and egg cream, in an elongated shape.
Sweets and desserts · SintraToucinho do céu
Convent sweet made with egg yolks, sugar, and almonds, dense and delicate.
Sweets and desserts · Convent sweets / various regionsBroa de milho
Rustic corn and wheat bread, with a dense crumb and firm crust.
Breads and doughs · Minho / BeirasBolo do caco
Flat Madeiran bread with sweet potato, traditionally served with garlic butter.
Breads and doughs · MadeiraPão alentejano
Rustic bread with a firm crust and consistent crumb, perfect for açordas and soups.
Breads and doughs · AlentejoEditorial cluster
Regional recipes and special dates
Madeira, Azores, Alentejo, Algarve, Christmas, and Easter help to understand how Portugal reveals itself through occasion and territory.
Portuguese regional recipes
Explore recipes organized by North, Beiras, Lisbon, Alentejo, Algarve, Madeira, and Azores.
Empório PortugalPortuguese Christmas recipes
Sweets, cod, menus, and preparations related to the Portuguese Christmas table.
Empório PortugalPortuguese Easter recipes
Folares, goat, sweets, and ideas for family lunch.
Empório PortugalContinue browsing
Related internal links
Use these paths to delve deeper into recipes, guides, products, and community participation.
Portuguese Recipes
See the complete database of published recipes.
Empório PortugalGuides to Portuguese Cuisine
Learn techniques, ingredients, and substitutions.
Empório PortugalCommunity Recipes
Get to know the project of recipes submitted by readers with moderation.
Empório PortugalCommunity Recipes
Get to know the project of recipes submitted by readers, always with moderation.
Empório PortugalSubmit a recipe
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Moderated participationFrequently asked questions
Quick questions about this topic
Does this page replace individual recipes?
No. It serves as a pillar page to organize recipes, guides, and related topics. Complete recipes remain on individual pages.
Is the content official from Portugal?
We do not use the word official without proof. The content is editorial from Empório Portugal, based on Portuguese culinary tradition and rewritten in its own language.
Can I submit a family recipe?
Yes. Use the recipe submission form; all submitted content goes through analysis before any publication.
Do you have a family Portuguese recipe?
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