1. Polvo Salad
On the list of summer dishes in Portugal, salada de polvo – octopus salad – is an indispensable symbol of the hot summer days. Behind its simple appearance lies the salty ocean and the coastal sunshine.
Salada de polvo starts with fresh octopus, boiled until tender but still retaining its natural crunch. They are sliced into bite-sized pieces and tossed with thinly sliced red onions, red and green bell peppers, fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil and white vinegar. Each ingredient is carefully selected to create a harmony of sweet, salty, sour, creamy and fresh herbal flavors.
When you eat a plate of salada de polvo in an Algarve seaside restaurant, you feel the Atlantic Ocean lapping at your lips. The olive oil is as fragrant as the sun, the white vinegar is as sour as a cool sea breeze, the onion is as pungent as the earth. This is not just a summer dish in Portugal, it is a way of life – leisurely, open-minded and in harmony with nature.
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2. Caldo Verde
On starry summer nights, as the cool breeze sweeps across the grasslands of northern Portugal, there’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of aromatic caldo verde. While it may seem like an odd idea to think of as a hot summer soup, caldo verde has long been a staple of São João celebrations and family gatherings.
This Portuguese summer dish is made with mashed potatoes simmered in a clear broth, creating a velvety liquid. Gallega (couve galega) is sliced into thin green threads and tossed into the pot to retain its freshness. Slices of chouriço – bright red paprika sausage – stand out against the yellow-green background, giving off a distinctive, slightly spicy aroma.
As you hold a bowl of caldo verde in your hand, you will see the Portuguese summer in a peaceful way: the sound of guitars in the square, the sound of laughter around the table, and the smell of the fields mixed with the smell of fire. This Portuguese summer dish is a reminder that food is not just about filling the stomach, but also about connecting the soul, preserving memories and sharing love.
3. Sardinhas Assadas
When it comes to summer food in Portugal, it is impossible to ignore sardinhas assadas – charcoal-grilled sardines – a symbol of the bustling summer festivals. In June, the smell of grilled sardines permeates the streets of Lisbon, Porto and small coastal fishing villages, signaling the arrival of the festival season.
The Portuguese are very proud of their sardines – fresh, firm, and with a distinctive fatty aroma. The sardines are cleaned, seasoned with coarse salt and olive oil, and placed on a grill of hot coals. The sizzling sound of the fat and the fragrant smell of smoke mixed with the scent of the sea make anyone passing by stop. This Portuguese summer dish is served with crusty toasted bread, boiled potatoes, or a refreshing salad.
In the glow of paper lanterns at the Santos Populares festival, long tables are set up in the street, people are sitting on them, glasses of cold vinho verde sparkle, plates of grilled sardines give off a delicious aroma. Sardinhas assadas is not just a dish, it is the soul of the Portuguese summer: vibrant, generous, sweet and full of connection.
4. Friends with Bulhao Pato
A dish of ameijoas à Bulhão Pato – clams cooked with garlic and coriander – is a must on the Portuguese summer table, especially along the southern coast. It is a dish that evokes a lazy summer afternoon by the sea, with the sun dancing on the water and the sound of gentle waves.
Fresh clams are carefully selected, cleaned of sand, then stir-fried with golden olive oil, fragrant minced garlic and local white wine. Finally, a handful of finely chopped fresh coriander is sprinkled on top. When the pot lid is opened, the aroma rises up, inviting all the senses.
This Portuguese summer dish is served in large bowls with bread to soak up the smooth, sweet, salty, and creamy golden sauce. The natural sweetness of the clams, the zesty garlic, and the fresh greens of the coriander create a perfect Mediterranean symphony. This is a dish to share, to talk about, to stretch the late afternoon into the sunset.
5. Arroz de Marisco
If there’s one Portuguese summer dish that can capture the ocean in one pot, it’s arroz de marisco – seafood rice. This dish is a vibrant canvas of sea, forest and land.
Arroz de marisco starts with a slow-cooked broth made from prawn heads, crab shells and fresh vegetables, creating a natural sweetness and richness that is unmatched. Short-grain Iberian rice is slowly cooked in the broth, allowing each grain to absorb the flavour. Bright red prawns, plump crabs, open clams, and white squid – all are placed in the pot like precious gems of the sea.
As the steaming pot of arroz de marisco is brought to the table, the aroma of the sea, combined with paprika, parsley and olive oil, fills the air. This Portuguese summer dish is often eaten during long afternoons, when families gather in the shade, chatting and sharing spoonfuls of rice with a sweet seafood broth. It is more than just a dish, it is a summer ritual: sitting together, raising a glass of cold white wine and letting the sea blend into song, laughter and memories.
Portuguese summer is a season of endless sunshine, of the blue sea, of the soulful sounds of guitars and fado, but also a season of charming and emotional cuisine. The top 5 summer dishes in Portugal that this article introduces not only cool down the sweltering heat but also bring an authentic cultural experience, making you understand and love this small but rich country even more.
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Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-an-mua-he-o-bo-dao-nha-v17465.aspx
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