Tradition, Served With a Ladle of Comfort 🇵🇹


Hi Reader,

When I was a kid, tradition came ladled into my bowl whether I wanted it or not. Take my grandmother's, mother's, and aunts' countless soups. Did I, at seven years old, appreciate their rustic charms, their centuries of peasant history, their soulful connection to Portugal? Come on! I wanted Campbell’s chicken noodle like the kids on TV, with its suspiciously lurid yellow broth and noodles that looked like they’d been cut by a drunk barber.

But the Sisters of The Spatula (SOS), as I call the women in my young life, brook no rebuff. “Eat,” they'd say. And eat I did. Somewhere between slurps, I stopped resenting tradition and started craving it.

Even now, in our own kitchen, when trends scream “kale smoothies!” or “air-fried Oreos!” I reach for my Dutch oven. A pot of beans with pork belly, a bubbling sopa de pedra (stone soup), or a braise perfumed with garlic and bay leaf—they remind me that comfort isn’t invented; it’s inherited. And while TikTok might vanish tomorrow, I assure you: my SOS's soup will outlive us all.

How to Cook Tradition Without Apologies

  1. Start with the Ladle: Soups and stews—caldo verde, sopa de pedra—are Portuguese tradition in liquid form. They stretch ingredients and hug you from the inside out.
  2. Don’t Skimp on Pork: Chouriço, presunto, pork belly—these aren’t side notes. They’re the bass line that gives Portuguese cooking its thrum.
  3. Lean on Pantry Staples: Garlic, olive oil, bay leaf, paprika, and my Taste of Portugal spice blend. Simple, unpretentious, always ready to build flavor like bricks in a cathedral.
  4. Respect the Rituals: Sunday dinners, holiday roasts, the annual appearance of bacalhau. Cooking is as much about timing and occasion as ingredients.
  5. Let It Be Slow: Tradition takes its time. Stews deepen overnight, beans soften gently, flavors marry while you’re busy living life.

WHAT'S INSIDE...

Pasteis de Nata ~ Portuguese Custard Tarts

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.83 from 315 votes

This pastéis de nata recipe makes as-close-to-authentic Portuguese custard tarts with a rich egg custard nestled in shatteringly crisp pastry. Tastes like home, even if you're not from Portugal.
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Bifanas ~ Portuguese Pork Sandwiches

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.86 from 47 votes

Bifanas are traditional Portuguese sandwiches made with thin slices of pork that are marinated and simmered in a sauce of white wine, garlic, and paprika and served on soft rolls with plenty of mustard and piri-piri sauce.
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Papo Secos | Portuguese Rolls

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.84 from 61 votes

These papo secos are light and airy Portuguese rolls that are the perfect vehicle for the classic --marinated pork slices--or your favorite sandwich fillings or simply a smear of butter.
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Pastéis de Bacalhau ~ Salt Cod Fritters

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.94 from 47 votes

These Portuguese salt cod fritters, called pastéis de bacalhau, are made with salt cod, potato, onion, and parsley and are fried for a traditional Portuguese treat.
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Bacalhau a Bras ~ Salt Cod, Potatoes & Eggs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.83 from 34 votes

This delicious lunch, dinner, or even brunch dish is from the classic restaurant Bota Alta, in Lisbon's Bairro Alto district.
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Portuguese Pork and Clams | Porco à Alentejana

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.77 from 42 votes

This combination of Portuguese pork and clams, also known as porco a Alentejana, is a superbly comforting and oh-so-satisfying dish of marinated pork shoulder and briny clams in a white wine and red pepper sauce.
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Portuguese Carne Assada

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.82 from 33 votes

This Portuguese carne assada from David's VERY Portuguese Mama Leite, is a traditional Azorean braised beef dish made with meltingly tender meat, small red potatoes, chouriço, and onions.
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Serradura ~ Portuguese Sawdust Pudding

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.73 from 11 votes

Sawdust pudding, or serradura, is a Portuguese dessert that's perhaps the easiest and best last course ever. It's made by layering crushed tea cookies with sweetened whipping cream. Three ingredients. And elegant enough for entertaining.
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Caçoila | Portuguese Stewed Beef

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.89 from 26 votes

Caçoila, or Portuguese stewed beef, is a comforting braise of beef, red peppers, and aromatics, cooked very slowly in a red wine, tomato, and butter sauce.
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Portuguese Orange Olive Oil Cake

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.91 from 150 votes

This Portuguese orange olive oil cake has an unforgettably tender crumb and a citrus smack thanks to fruity olive oil, winter navel oranges, and orange zest.
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