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Sharing small plates amongst household and pals could also be finest often known as a Spanish custom, however this practice is simply as cherished by the Portuguese, too. Petiscos are Portugal’s tackle tapas, and having fun with a collection of these pint-sized parts is each a culinary and social occasion.
Discovering petiscos in Lisbon requires minimal effort, however you’ll have to dig a little bit deeper to uncover the very best dishes and spots. After years of main Lisbon meals excursions and tucking into far too many clams and pica-pau, I really feel obliged to provide you my tackle the place the best petiscos could be discovered!
These are my must-try petiscos in Lisbon and the very best locations to seek out them.
Amêijoas á Bulhão Pato
Amêijoas á bulhão pato are Portuguese-style clams usually steamed with olive oil, cilantro, garlic, and lemon; the components are easy, however the outcomes are divine.
This prized dish dates again to the nineteenth century. It takes its identify from the Portuguese poet Raimundo Bulhão Pato, famously keen on this tasty mixture of components. Though Pato had nothing to do with its creation, his love for this dish earned him an ever-lasting affiliation with it!
These days, amêijoas á bulhão pato is often served as an appetizer, and you’ll usually see it accompanied by some crusty bread for dipping.
The place to Eat It?
Taberna da Rua das Flores is without doubt one of the many unbelievable Lisbon spots for amêijoas á bulhão pato. The classic decor takes me again in time every time I stroll inside, and it’s a becoming setting for having fun with an age-old recipe like this one.
The clams right here tasted so contemporary and mineral-like, with simply the best stage of candy and savory notes. What actually took the dish up a notch had been the cilantro’s clear flavors and the lemon’s sharp acidity.
Taberna da Rua das Flores (€€) – Rua das Flores 103 109, 1200-194 Lisboa, Portugal – Open each Monday to Saturday from 12:00 pm to 11:30 pm and each Sunday from 12:00 pm to six:00 pm
Pica-Pau
I often go for amêijoas à bulhão pato on a heat day, however pica-pau hits the spot when it’s chilly out. This explicit snack or petisco consists of cubes or strips of fried beef marinated in a mix of garlic, mustard, chili, and white wine or beer.
Many consider this dish traces its roots again to the lands close to the Ribatejo area, however little is understood about how this pica-pau was developed. Its quirky identify, which interprets to woodpecker, got here to be because it’s served with toothpicks.
In most tascas, pica-pau comes topped with olives alongside a serving to of pickled carrots and cauliflowers.
The place to Eat It?
Restaurante Pica-Pau is house to my favourite tackle pica-pau. For those who haven’t guessed by the identify, this place focuses on pica-pau, and its stylish patio space is the last word spot to dig into some hearty beef chunks.
Each bit of juicy beef right here is cooked to perfection, and the meaty juices improve the flavors of the spicy mustard and fiery chili. The bitter tang from the pickled greens added larger depth to the flavour palette.
Restaurante Pica-Pau (€€) – R. da Escola Politécnica 27, 1200-244 Lisboa, Portugal – Open each Monday to Thursday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am, Friday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am, Saturday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 am, and each Sunday from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am
Pastéis de Bacalhau
Pastéis de Bacalhau are cod fish-filled croquettes which might be simply among the many most recognizable petiscos in Lisbon.
Like lots of the metropolis’s most interesting dishes, the origins of pastéis de bacalhau are unclear. Nonetheless, they doubtless happened in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the 1800s, as this was when related recipes started to appear in cookbooks.
These deep-fried delights mix cod, potatoes, parsley, and onion and are historically introduced with a handful of lemon wedges.
The place to Eat It?
Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau is a well-liked spot for this snack and for good motive. Even with its picture-perfect old-school inside, all the main focus right here is on its delectable pastéis de bacalhau.
The pastry cooks right here put a spin on the traditional recipe, including creamy Serra da Estrela to every croquette. This cheese enrichens the fragile flavors of the flaky cod, mushy potato, and crunchy batter.
Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau (€€) – R. Augusta 106, 1100-053 Lisboa, Portugal – Open on daily basis from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Grilled Sardines
Seafood is on the coronary heart of Portuguese delicacies, and grilled sardines play a starring position.
Sardines have been a staple for Lisbon locals for hundreds of years, due to the town’s long-standing affiliation with the Atlantic. Through the years, grilling these flavor-packed fish over charcoal has develop into a summertime custom, as sardines are usually solely obtainable from Might to August.
The normal means of serving sardines is with only a contact of lemon, olive oil, and a facet of bread.
The place to Eat It?
Lisbon Tu e Eu is a homely hang-out with colourful tables spilling out onto the cobblestone streets. As charming because the setting is, the standard of the meals left me dreaming of one other go to.
The grilled sardines right here stay as much as all of the hype they get. Served with a dusting of tart pink onions and bitter parsley, the briny, oily fish flavors develop into extra intense with every chunk. I teamed it with a glass of citrussy albarino from the wine record that countered the salty notes from the fish.
Lisbon Tu e Eu (€) – R da Adiça 58, 1100-116 Lisboa, Portugal – Open on daily basis from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Caracóis
Snails are carefully related to French delicacies, however France’s European neighbors are simply as fanatical about them. Caracóis is the Portuguese phrase for snail, they usually’re discovered on petisco menus all through Lisbon.
One of many many meals to hail from the Alentejo area, caracóis are seasonal snacks that seem in tascas and cafes each summer time. Might till August is often the one time of yr when the climate is heat sufficient to supply caracóis.
Caracóis are often cooked in garlic, oregano, and rosemary broth. A portion of bread usually comes with this steaming bowl of snails to take advantage of the remaining soup.
The place to Eat It?
If I’m within the metropolis in the course of the summer time, I attempt to make it to Tico Tico not less than as soon as. It’s a little bit additional out of the middle than lots of my different favourite spots for petiscos in Lisbon, however its full of life ambiance and very good meals are price making the journey for.
These guys dish out beneficiant parts of those tiny snails. Every one is bursting with punchy garlic and peppery oregano that elevate the delicate flavors of the chewy snails.
Tico Tico (€€) – Av. Rio de Janeiro 19, 1700-330 Lisboa, Portugal – Open on daily basis from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Peixinhos da Horta
Many Portuguese petiscos are likely to focus on seafood and, to a lesser extent, meat, however there are additionally loads of veggie-friendly options. An particularly tasty meat-free dish is peixinhos da horta, that are deep-fried inexperienced beans.
These stick-shaped snacks resemble slender items of battered fish, and as such, their identify interprets to little fish from the backyard. Though the historical past of peixinhos da horta continues to be up for debate, some consider they’ve been round for nearly 500 years.
In most tascas(taverns), these include a dollop of tartar sauce or mayonnaise for dipping.
The place to Eat It?
Entering into Petisqueira Conqvistador can really feel like strolling into somebody’s kitchen. The picket decor, murals, and relaxed ambiance gave it an earthy however stylish vibe.
My peixinhos da horta arrived in a crispy tempura batter, including richness to the gently candy, agency inexperienced beans. On the facet was silky, pungent pepper sauce, which I believed was an unconventional however well-matched accompaniment.
For those who’ve ever joined my meals and wine excursions in Lisbon, you’ll have heard me point out how nicely these pair with the tropical undertones of an arinto white.
Petisqueira Conqvistador (€€) – Television. de São Bartolomeu 4, 1100-059 Lisboa, Portugal – Open on daily basis from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Conclusion
Whether or not you’re a first-timer hoping to pattern genuine fare or a returning customer in search of an area expertise with some good meals, attempting out a couple of petiscos is a should.
These small dishes showcase the very best of Portuguese meals and, higher nonetheless, assist you to pattern an abundance of dishes unexpectedly!
