Easy Portuguese Recipes

Take your pick from this mix of traditional recipes from different regions of Portugal.  Expect each dish in the list to give you a taste of Portuguese cuisine — in the comfort of your home!

Rice, bread, spices, sausage, and seafood — these are the staples in every Portuguese kitchen.  

Every lunch or dinner would have soup, and if there is soup, there is always bread served with it.

Dessert can be a pastry or the traditional sweet rice pudding.

Now you can try some (or all) of these Portuguese dishes in your own kitchen!

Jump to:

• Classic Soup
• Rice and Side Dishes
• Cakes and Pastries
• Traditional Dessert

Classic Soup

Caldo Verde (Portuguese Green Soup)

Portuguese cuisine typically uses regular, easy-to-find produce and then amps the flavor up with the highlight ingredient of the dish.

This classic soup is a perfect example.  

You prepare the soup with kale, then turn the flavor up with the addition of chorizo at the end.  The fat and spice from the chorizo do wonders to the soup.  

Rice and Side Dishes

Arroz de Tomate (Portuguese Tomato Rice)

Great as a side dish on its own, or as a main dish, with mixed seafood added into it.

Regardless of how this rice dish is served, I never thought a dish with such ‘no-frills’ ingredients would turn out as delicious as this one.

You have to try and discover it for yourself now. 🙂 

Salt-Crusted Baked Potatoes

I know there are regions in Spain that do this, but they bury it under the sand instead of baking it in the oven.

When I saw (and tried) this in Lisbon, I knew right away that it would be one of my regular potato side dishes here in Stockholm.

It’s all about this dish’s simplicity — the salt brings out the natural flavor of potatoes.  Yum.

Cakes and Pastries

Bolo de Mel (Portuguese Honey Cake)

It’s hard to miss the taste of honey in this easy Portuguese recipe — even with your eyes closed.

It is a light cake that is perfect for snacks, dessert, or even breakfast, and so quick to prepare as well!

Traditional Dessert

Arroz Doce (Portuguese Rice Pudding)

Almost every region in Portugal has its own way of making this well-loved dessert.  

Unlike other desserts that you usually don’t see during the holidays, this one is even (typically) served as part of the Christmas eve meal.