Portuguese cuisine is well known for being comprised of simple, handy ingredients. However, the country’s people have an uncanny way of preparing “simple” ingredients in the most delectable ways! Most Portuguese dishes have a particular emphasis on ingredients easily found in local markets, which includes fish, seafood, vegetables, and spices. This article has three great traditional Portuguese recipes that are easy to make and extremely tasty!
Sweet Bread
Ingredients:
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
1 egg
1 tbsp butter
2 1/4 tbsp sugar
1/3 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1 tsp yeast
Pour the yeast into the milk and let it dissolve for a few minutes. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and sugar. Next, add the milk/yeast mixture, butter, and egg. Mix well. Knead the dough on a floured surface. Once the dough is smooth, place a wet towel over it and allow it to rise for at least an hour. You can place the dough in a greased bread pan, or shape it into a round loaf and bake it on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for until the bread is light brown. You can test its doneness by sticking a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, it’s done.
Portuguese Soup
Ingredients:
1 lb Chorizo
1 bunch of kale
1 small cabbage
1 can kidney beans
8 potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
Beef bone (optional-for flavor)
Directions:
Bring a stock pot full of water to a boil. Add the beef bone and chorizo and let it boil for about half an hour. Add in the kale, beans, potatoes, cabbage, and salt and pepper. Continue to boil the soup until the potatoes are tender. After everything is thoroughly cooked, let the soup stand for an hour (covered) before serving.
Egg Pudding
Ingredients:
1 egg (white only)
12 egg yolks
1/2 tsp butter
1 cup white sugar + 1 1/3 additional cups
¼ cup hot water
Lemon peel
1/2 cup hot water
1 cinnamon stick
Directions:
In a bowl, beat together the egg yolks, egg white, and butter until smooth. Set this aside for later. Heat 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of water over low heat. Stir the mixture occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Pour it into a baking dish, taking care to coat the bottom and sides of the dish with the mixture. In a separate sauce pan, mix together 1 1/3 cups of sugar, lemon peel, 1/2 cup of water, and the cinnamon stick. Bring this mixture to a boil and continue boiling for two minutes, then remove it from the heat. Remove the lemon peel and cinnamon stick from the mixture. Beat this mixture into the egg mixture, then pour into the baking dish with the sugar/water mixture. Place a damp towel in the bottom of a roasting pan, then put the baking dish on top of the towel. Fill the roasting pan with water until it reaches half way up the side of the baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees F for about an hour. If the pudding begins to brown too early, cover it until it finishes baking. Cool the pudding completely before inverting it onto a serving dish.
