{"id":17193,"date":"2019-11-01T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T10:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/devourlisbonfoodtours.com\/?p=3339"},"modified":"2022-12-15T17:05:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T17:05:02","slug":"portuguese-christmas-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/portuguese-christmas-food\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Portuguese Christmas Food & Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

This post was originally published on November 1, 2019, and was updated on December 15, 2022.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Portugal might not be the most Christmassy country, but what it lacks in wintery weather, it makes up for in colorful street decorations and delicious Christmas food. You know Christmas is around the corner when the local caf\u00e9s change their sweets display. Suddenly, the whole counter is full of Christmas cakes and fried-dough pastries of numerous shapes and sizes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Beyond sweets, Portuguese Christmas food is simple, with a mix of seafood<\/a> and meaty delicacies that vary from region to region.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Whether you\u2019re spending Christmas in Portugal or just popping by for a visit, don\u2019t let this festive season go by without trying some traditional Portuguese Christmas food. Oh, and good luck getting through all those sweets!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\"Want<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Portuguese Christmas Traditions<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Like the country itself, Portuguese Christmas has always had ties with religion. When it comes to traditional decorations, it\u2019s pretty common to see pres\u00e9pios<\/em> (nativity scenes) outside a church or even by the road in the middle of a roundabout!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For a long time, the pres\u00e9pio<\/em> was the main Christmas decoration in a Portuguese home. Some have a small one with just the Holy Family, but others take it a step further, adding dozens of characters and picking up fresh moss to make the grass. As more people adopted the Christmas tree, the pres\u00e9pio<\/em> took a back seat, but some families still have one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\"Portuguese\r\n
When it comes to holiday decorations, the pres\u00e9pio is about as Portuguese as it gets. Photo credit: William Miranda Andrade<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Another religious tradition that remains alive here is the Missa do Galo<\/a><\/em>. Every year, families come together at their local church to attend this midnight mass on Christmas Eve before opening their presents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

From mid-November onwards, Christmas lights also take over the streets and cities set up a big Christmas tree on their main square. In the north of Portugal, they also have bonfires known as the Madeiros<\/em>, which you can see in villages like Cabe\u00e7a<\/a> or Penamacor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\"Christmas\r\n
Lisbon all decked out for the holidays. Photo credit: PortoBay Experiences<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Main Meal: Christmas Eve vs Christmas Day<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Codfish, octopus, and other fish<\/h3>\r\n

For Christmas Eve, we Portuguese like to have a light dinner, which we call Consoada<\/em>. On this day, most of us abstain from eating meat, opting instead for fish or seafood dishes. The fish of choice is usually bacalhau<\/em>, aka salt cod<\/a>, the most prominent ingredient of Portuguese cuisine. This fish makes an appearance as a snack like in past\u00e9is de bacalhau<\/em> (codfish fritters) or as a main dish itself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While there are endless ways of cooking codfish, the Christmas recipe is quite simple. Known as bacalhau da Consoada<\/em>, this version combines boiled cod with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and hard-boiled eggs, all drizzled with olive oil. Honestly, it\u2019s not the most exciting way of eating codfish, so some people like to jazz it up with a casserole like Bacalhau \u00e0 Gomes de S\u00e1<\/a><\/em> or Bacalhau com Natas<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\r\n

In some regions, it’s also common to eat octopus, either roasted with potatoes or mixed with rice.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"A
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Portuguese Christmas table without cod in some form, such as these past\u00e9is de bacalhau. Photo credit: Eur\u00f3pa Pont<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Meat dishes<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On Christmas Day, there\u2019s another family meal that features at least one meat dish. It can be anything from roasted turkey to lamb or cabrito assado<\/em> (baby goat). In the North of Portugal, you can also have roupa velha <\/em>\u00a0(\u201cold clothes\u201d). This dish consists of using the leftover codfish from the previous night and frying it up with thinly chopped potatoes and boiled eggs.<\/p>\r\n

Port wine or Ginjinha<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As for drinks, this season is the ideal time to have a glass of Port wine or try traditional liqueurs like ginjinha<\/em><\/a>, a sour cherry liqueur that goes perfectly with Christmas desserts.<\/p>\r\n

\"Ginjinha
A traditional Portuguese drink like ginjinha is perfect at Christmastime. Photo credit: Juan Lupi\u00f3n<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Portuguese Christmas Desserts: 7 Traditional Treats to Try<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When December comes around, every pastelaria<\/em> in Portugal puts on a display of Christmas desserts. Yes, you can still get your pastel de nata<\/em><\/a>, but this season also brings many other delicious sweets that you won\u2019t find at other times of year. Even the supermarkets have a section just for Christmas desserts, usually next to the bread or near the checkout, tempting you on the way out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some families are lucky to have a Portuguese granny who cooks these things, while others drop by their local pastelaria<\/em> to pick up their favorite sweets before the family dinner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

From traditional cakes to fried dough pastries, here are the best Portuguese Christmas desserts you need to try.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bolo Rei<\/em> and Bolo Rainha<\/em><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bolo Rei<\/em> is the traditional Christmas cake in Portugal. The name means King\u2019s Cake, and it\u2019s a reference to the Three Wise Men, which we Portuguese call Tr\u00eas Reis<\/em> (Three Kings). Inspired by the French G\u00e2teau des Rois<\/em>, it appeared in Portugal around the 19th century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It\u2019s a kind of fruitcake, but with a softer consistency similar to bread. The dough also includes a mix of nuts and dried fruits like raisins. From the outside, it looks like a wreath, decorated with colorful candied fruit and powdered sugar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There\u2019s another type called Bolo Rainha<\/em> (Queen\u2019s Cake), which is the same but without the candied fruit. Both these cakes are usually available between Christmas and the Epiphany on the 6th of January.<\/p>\r\n

\"Large
When it comes to Portuguese Christmas food, Bolo Rei is a classic. Photo credit: Blog Crossover<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Filhoses<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Filhoses<\/em> are delicious deep-fried sweets made with eggs, flour, and sometimes a bit of orange zest or pumpkin. Once fried, locals dip them straight into a plate with a mix of cinnamon and sugar, carefully coating each side.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There are different varieties of this dessert around Portugal. In Alentejo, they have a rectangular shape and a crispy texture, while in the Beira region, they are soft and rounder\u2014but they\u2019re both equally tasty!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rabanadas<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You could say this is Portugal\u2019s version of French toast, but it\u2019s much more than that.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

First of all, the bread is usually thicker, and there\u2019s no syrup involved. To make rabanadas, <\/em>or fatias douradas<\/em> (golden slices), you have to soak the bread slices in a mix of warm milk, sugar, and lemon zest. Then do the same thing again, but in an egg mixture. Once that\u2019s done, you need to fry it up until it\u2019s golden on both sides. Top it off with a bit of cinnamon and sugar, and that\u2019s it!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\"Rabanadas,\r\n
If you like French toast, you’ll love rabanadas<\/em>. Photo credit: Francisco Antunes<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Azevias<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Azevias<\/em> are kind of similar to apple turnovers but slightly smaller, and instead of going in the oven, they\u2019re deep-fried, which gives them a crispy texture. They come with different fillings (no apple), but the most common ones are chickpea and almonds. Of course, it wouldn\u2019t be a Portuguese dessert without a dusting of sugar and cinnamon at the end.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sonhos<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

These soft doughnut-like balls are one of our favorite Christmas sweets, and you can find them all over the country. \u201cSonhos<\/em>\u201d means \u201cdreams\u201d in Portuguese, so with a name like this, you know you\u2019re going\u00a0 to get something tasty! The basic recipe contains eggs, flour and sugar, but you can also get it with carrots or pumpkin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\"Sonhos,\r\n
Sonhos certainly live up to their name\u2014you’ll be dreaming of these delicious bites long after you’ve finished yours! Photo credit: Edsel Little<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Broas de Natal<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Broa<\/em> usually refers to the traditional Portuguese cornbread, but the Christmas version is very different. These are small oval biscuits made with sweet potatoes, cornflour, sugar, and spices like aniseed and cinnamon. After shaping the dough by hand, locals add an almond flake in the middle and brush them with a bit of egg yolk, so the biscuits get that shiny color when they come out of the oven. (The almonds are optional, but we recommend them!)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Lampreia de Ovos<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Lampreia de ovos<\/a><\/em> is probably the most unusual Christmas dessert in Portugal. It takes at least 20 eggs to make this flashy treat shaped like a lamprey fish.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Lamprey is a bloodsucking fish that is part of Portuguese cuisine, but don\u2019t worry\u2014this version is the sweet kind. Egg yolks are the main ingredient here, followed by sugar and almonds. To make the creature come to life, people use candied fruit for the eyes and the mouth. It\u2019s a sugar bomb for sure, but it\u2019s only Christmas once a year, right?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post was originally published on November 1, 2019, and was updated on December 15, 2022. Portugal might not be the most Christmassy country, but what it lacks in wintery weather, it makes up for in colorful street decorations and delicious Christmas food. You know Christmas is around the corner when the local caf\u00e9s change […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":17189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1722,1723],"tags":[34,241,1807],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDevour Tours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/portuguese-christmas-food\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Crash Course in Portuguese Christmas Food & Traditions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From beloved seafood dishes to tasty desserts, discover beloved Portuguese Christmas foods and traditions!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17193\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Devour Tours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DevourToursCo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-11-01T10:00:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-12-15T17:05:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1915846_1241318049217219_631589452210948100_n-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"507\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joana Taborda\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@devourtours\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@devourtours\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Joana Taborda\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/portuguese-christmas-food\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/portuguese-christmas-food\/\",\"name\":\"Portuguese Christmas Food & Traditions You'll Love - 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