Holidaymakers flock to the Algarve in their droves every year to soak up the sun, tee off on some of Europe’s best golf courses and enjoy the delicious food.
The cuisine in southern Portugal has roots in both Iberian and Arabic cooking, not to mention a splash of its Roman Catholic heritage thrown in. Seafood is king in this part of the world with an abundance of fishing communities dotted along the coastline. This ensures you are getting the freshest produce that tastes divine.
Such is the notoriety of the Algarve’s fish that Olhao, Faro and Ria Formosa hold regular seafood festivals where fishermen showcase their catch and what can be created using simple ingredients.
There are so many places to visit in the Algarve, this region is a great location to visit all year round, even winter months as it gets some of the best winter sun in Europe. You can combine a trip whilst checking out some of the fantastic restaurants to boot.
Let’s take a look at some of the most mouth-watering dishes you could be enjoying whilst soaking up some sun in the Algarve.
1. Cataplana
When talking about Algarve food, there is no better place to start than Cataplana.
This Portuguese fish stew has been served up across the region since it was first introduced in the 8th century. Taking its name from the Moorish designed copper domed dish in which it is cooked, it brings together all the best produce of the area.
Ingredients vary all across the Algarve but it begins with a base of tomatoes, onions, wine and herbs. Then comes the fish with mussels, chorizo and vegetables all chucked into the cataplana, which is clamped together to seal the flavours in. Ideal for sharing, it is perfectly complimented with some crusty bread and a glass of wine.
Where to eat: Taste the best cataplana in the Algarve at O Pirata on Aldeia dos Navegantes in Vilamoura.
2. Polvo a Lagareiro
Feeling a bit adventurous? Then tuck into a bowl of polvo a lagareiro – oven baked octopus. This fairly common dish in the Algarve is flavoured with generous helpings of olive oil, garlic and onion and then baked.
The process ensures that the octopus is incredibly tender and melts in the mouth when served.
The dish is usually accompanied with baked potatoes making it perfect for either a side (if you’re feeling extra hungry!) or a main meal.
The term lagareiro comes from the Portuguese expression for someone who works in a mill which produces olive oil, and is used due to the sheer amount of oil that makes the octopus tender.
Where to eat: Find the best polvo a lagareiro at As Asinhas on Estrada Ponta Piedade in Lagos.
3. Peixe Grelhado
You can’t visit the Algarve without sampling some of the morning catch cooked on an open grill. Take a stroll along the beach in any one of the fishing communities and you will see restaurants cooking up some delicious peixe grelhado, typically sardines.
Each establishment will have its own take on this beautifully simple dish drizzled in olive oil and infused with a couple of herbs. They tend to be accompanied with either roasted white or sweet potatoes and a saldada a montanheira. The latter consists of fresh tomato, green pepper, onion, garlic, olive oil, a dash of vinegar and locally grown herbs.
Sat next to some fresh crusty bread, it is the perfect daytime meal.
Where to eat: The Algarve is bustling with restaurants serving peixe grelhado, you won’t have to go far to find some great grub.
4. Frango Piri Piri
It is not all about seafood on the Algarve, and any meat lovers will be desperate to sink their teeth into Frango piri piri. The region’s take on the classic Portuguese meal has strong roots in Guia, close to the family-friendly resort of Albufeira.
A traditional meal consists of a piece of chicken barbecued to perfection and then covered in a hot sauce known as piri piri. While you can find this dish all over Portugal, nothing beats the real McCoy in the Algarve. Chicken can often be substituted with pork and game as you move more inland.
This dish is usually served with fries and salad, as opposed to rice in northern Portugal.
Where to eat: Taste piri piri where it all began in Guia. Teodosio on Rua do Emigrante in nearby Albufeira dishes up the finest chicken you are likely to find.
5. Dom Rodrigo
Brazilian traditional dessert: sweet couscous (tapioca) pudding (cuscuz doce) with coconut on white plate on wooden table.
After all that sumptuous meat and fish, you will want to indulge your sweet tooth and the Algarve has you covered. Tuck into one of the most traditional desserts in the region – dom rodrigo. While sometimes regarded as a festive pudding, this treat can be enjoyed all year round.
It is made from egg yolks which are cooked through a process that turns the mixture into something resembling angel hair. Sugar is then added along with almonds and cinnamon and wrapped in a colourful foil. Ideal with a coffee or a shot of medronho, a fruit brandy native to Portugal.
Where to eat: You can find a good dom rodrigo in almost every restaurant along the Algarve.
Has this got your tastebuds tingling? The Algarve is one of the top destinations in Portugal and with plenty of flights to Faro, you can be indulging in these delicious dishes in no time. You might like to learn basic Portuguese before departing, and really impress the locals. Hopefully you can’t wait to get out there and sample these delights in the sun!
