Portuguese+Cuisine

Although popular Portuguese Cuisine ultimately varies from region to region, seafood is popular among all regions. Seafood dishes are popular among the portuguese culture because the fishing industry is a strong component of the economy in Portugal, so it is readily available. Fish is served grilled, boiled (including poached and simmered), fried or deep-fried, stewed (often in clay pot cooking) or even roasted. Foremost amongst these is cod, which is the type of fish most consumed in Portugal. Cod is almost always used dried and salted.The simpler fish dishes are often flavoured with virgin olive oil and white wine vinegar ([]). Below is a picture of one popular method cooking cod: baking it.

Other popular seafood that is popular among the Portuguese include: octopus, scallops, sardines, squid, shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, mussells, oysters, barnacles, etc.

__Meat and Poultry__ Popular meat dishes include: Alcatra, beef marinated in red wine and garlic and then roasted.

Sopas is another popular portuguese meat dish. Sopas is also known as Holy Ghost Soup, and was traditionally served for the feast of Pentecost in the islands of the Azores ([]). Today, in the central valley of California, where portuguese cultures are found in many cities and towns, Sopas is a popular dish served at portuguese Festas (religious ceremonies that the portuguese people celebrate often). Below is a picture of what a Sopas dishe looks like, although there are many recipes for the Sopas food dish. Other popular meat dishes include:

Small beef or pork steaks in a roll (respectively //pregos// or //bifanas//) are popular snacks, often served at beer halls with a large mug of beer ([]).

Rojões à moda do Minho com arroz de sarrabulho (fried diced pork with blood rice).

Feijoada à transmontana Ingredients include: Beans, sausage, pork meat, and rice.

__Vegetables and Cheese__ Popular Vegetables in portuguese cuisine are tomatoes, cabbage, and onions. All of these can be found in many popular portuguese food dishes.

There is a wide variety of Portuguese cheeses, especially made from goat's or sheep's milk, or both together. Usually these are very strongly flavoured and fragrant. Some popular types of cheese include: //Queijo de Azeitão//, //Queijo de Castelo Branco// and //Queijo da Serra da Estrela// ([]).

__Wine__ Wine is the traditional portuguese drink of choice. Green, white, and red wines are drank often in the portuguese cultures. Vinho Verde, termed "green" wine, is not green in colour but a specific kind of wine, which can be red, white or rosé, and is only produced in the northwest (Minho province). The term "green wine" does not refer to the colour of the drink but to the fact that this wine needs to be drunk "young". A green wine should be consumed as a new wine while a "maduro" wine usually can be consumed after a period of ageing. Green wines are only produced in the north of Portugal and are usually slightly sparkling([]).

__Dessert__ One popular desert item is arroz doce, also known as rice pudding.

Pastries are also a popular dessert in the portuguese culture, found all throughout the different regions. One popular type of pastry is the Portuguese sweet bread, which is a roll that is sweetened. This can be found all throughout the central valley of Calfornia, the closet one at the Portuguese Bakery on Golden State Boulevard in Turlock, California.