Photo by Lummmy. When one thinks of typical Lisbon dishes, cod 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.
Lisbon's cuisine is varied and colourful, but surely the typical dish that first springs to mind when one thinks of the city's gastronomic tradition is cod. There are countless recipes for cooking it here and definitely many variations on the theme, and it is one of the most appreciated dishes, by locals and tourists alike.
The typical meal usually starts with snacks, which are always brought to the table but are only paid for when eaten. It then continues with a hot soup and continues with a main course of fish or meat, accompanied by vegetables and rice.
Typical are sardinhas assadas, arroz de marisco and carne de porco alentejana.
One of the best known typical soups is caldo verde, a soup made with fried onions, cabbage and potatoes, served with spicy sausage. Among desserts, the undisputed symbol of Lisbon are the super traditional pastéis de nata: pastries made of crispy puff pastry and filled with egg custard, which make anyone who tastes them go crazy with joy.
Here are 10 delicious recipes to tempt you if you visit the fascinating city of Lisbon.
1 - Warm Green
This is indeed a soup, green as the name suggests, as it is made with cabbage, potatoes and chorizo (not 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, which is very light, is usually served as an appetiser 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 à Alentejana
Meat and fish in the same dish for a very unusual recipe, but don't be put off by the ingredients! Indeed, clams and meat in the same dish is a rather unusual combination, but the result is very tasty indeed. To the pork, marinated with coriander, wine, paprika and pepper, fried clams are added and the whole thing is then served with potatoes.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €10.00
Main ingredients: pork, clams, potatoes
3 - Camarão in Moçambique
Photo by Lummmy. Although the name of this speciality means'shrimps from Mozambique', the dish is typical Portuguese and is easy to find on menus in Lisbon restaurants. The original recipe included spicy chillies from Africa, which are used to prepare the'Piri Piri' in which the shrimps themselves are dipped. Other ingredients are garlic, parsley and paprika. The dish is very spicy, so be prepared!
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €15.00
Main ingredients: shrimps, Piri Piri sauce, garlic, parsley
4 - Bacalhau
Here is the great classic of Portuguese cuisine and typical of Lisbon gastronomy: codfish. It is estimated that the average consumption of cod in Portugal ranges from 5 to 7 kilos! As with pasta in Italy, there are a myriad of recipes for cooking this product, the most famous being the so-called Portuguese-style codfish. In this dish, potatoes, eggs and black olives are added to the main ingredient. The recipe for baccalà mantecato is different, which, in addition to potatoes, calls for the use of béchamel sauce. 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 depending on the recipe
5 - Arroz de Marisco
Among the specialities of Lisbon gastronomy, you cannot miss Arroz de Marisco, a richly flavoured dish, a mix between typical Italian risotto and Spanish paella. The dish, made with rice, almost resembles a soup as it is brothy and made with shellfish, molluscs and vegetables.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €11.00
Main ingredients: rice, shellfish, vegetables
6 - Sardinhas assadas
This is Lisbon's other typical dish, sardines, usually served roasted, assadas in Portuguese. A simple but very tasty dish, suitable for those who are not too picky as fish, in the Portuguese capital, is served with all its innards.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner, snack
Average cost: €6.00
Main ingredients: sardines
7 - Pastéis de nata
After so many savoury specialities, it is finally time for a typical Lisbon sweet. These are the pastéis de nata, nothing more than small baskets of puff pastry with a delicious cream and egg cream inside. During baking, a delicious layer of caramelised cream is created on the surface. There is a legend about the origin of these sweets, which are said to have been invented at the monastery of Belém. The monks later started making them outside the walls and the recipe spread throughout Portugal.
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €2.00
Main ingredients: puff pastry, eggs, cream
8 - Polvo à Lagareiro
This is an octopus 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-tender. It is then served with an oil, garlic and parsley-based sauce, with a side of baked new potatoes.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €10.00
Main ingredients: octopus, new potatoes, oil, garlic, parsley
9 - Cozido à portuguesa
A not-so-light dish for meat lovers is Cozido à portuguesa, a kind of Portuguese cassoeula made with vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, cabbage and beans with the addition of rice and lots of pork. In addition to the various parts of this animal, we also find different versions of chouriço, a kind of sausage with a strong taste, and morcela, the black sausage made with pork blood and farinheira, yet another sausage made with flour, pepper and pork fat. It is a speciality recommended, for obvious reasons, during the winter season.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €17.00
Main ingredients: pork, vegetables
10 - Caldeirada de peixe
Fish dishes abound in typical Portuguese cuisine, and this stew is no exception. It is made with different types of fish and shellfish, covered with herbs and tomato.
Recommended at: lunch
Average cost: €14.00
Main ingredients: various types of fish, herbs, tomato
Where to eat in Lisbon: best restaurants, typical places and street food
Let's start with the assumption that the average quality of Lisbon restaurants is high. You are unlikely to go wrong, but we still want to give you some advice.
The first is to prefer 'tascas', a kind of tavern or trattoria that differs from the more common tourist restaurant. In the Bairro Alto you will find plenty of them!
Secondly, although it is very atmospheric to eat in'casas de fado', bear in mind that since it is a very sought-after 'combo', the prices go up quite a bit... you can also eat in one pocket and then listen to fado while sipping a good wine in another place.
Finally, yes, codfish is really everywhere, but the cuisine is varied, try a bit of everything and let the waiters advise you on specialities.
Here is a selection of some of the best places to eat well and spend little too.
1 - Taberna da Rua das Flores
Description: small but cosy tavern where you can enjoy typical Portuguese dishes in a family atmosphere.
Speciality: local fish, excellent wines
Average price: from €25.00 per person
Address: Get directions
2 - Casa Pastéis de Belém
Description: famous pastry shop where you can taste some of the best pastéis in town
Speciality: pastéis
Average price: from €6.00 per person
Address: Get directions
3 - Casa de Linhares
Description: historic restaurant, also mentioned in the Michelin guide, which often hosts live fado shows
Speciality: Codfish
Average price: from €50.00 per person
Address: Get directions
4 - Time Out Market
Description: modern-style indoor market where you can enjoy great traditional food
Speciality: Portuguese gourmet dishes with a street food twist
Average price: from €10.00 per person
Address: Get directions
5 - The Food Temple
Description: vegan restaurant, slow food inspired
Speciality: quinoa dishes, excellent vegetarian dishes
Average price: from €15.00 per person
Address: Get directions
6 - A Primavera do Jeronimo
Description: typical pocket in the Bairro Alto, typical cuisine and not at all touristy, generous portions and good value for money
Speciality: Lulas recheadas (stuffed squid) and Bacalhau à Brás
Average price: from €17.00 per person
Address: Get directions
7 - Ze da Mouraria
Description: This is a historical pocket, much loved by locals where the portions are super generous and the quality of the raw material very high. It is located in the beautiful Mouraria district, the Moorish area.
Speciality: cod with chickpeas and potatoes
Average price: from €15.00 per person
Address: Get directions
8 - Cabaças
Description: if you are a little tired of cod, here you will find meat of the highest quality. The ambience is that of a pocket, very informal. You wouldn't give a penny to look at it, but it is the top if you love meat.
Specialities: picanha na pedra and naco na pedra
Average price: from €15.00 per person
Address: Get directions
9 - LX Factory
Description: more than a restaurant, it is a real neighbourhood, open from 9am to 2am, born from the recovery of a former industrial area. An entire area is dedicated to food
Speciality: typical cuisine
Average price: from €10.00 per person
Address: Get directions
10 - Lisbon tu e eu
Description: chairs and tables in the middle of the steps, very informal atmosphere, location a few steps from the mirador Santa Lucia and at the foot of the Sè. Outside is a small courtyard with a pergola and very colourful decor, great place for a quick meal while spending little money.
Speciality: grilled sardines, fried cod
Average price: from €15.00 per person
Address: Get directions
