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Sharing small plates amongst household and mates could also be greatest referred to as a Spanish custom, however this tradition is simply as cherished by the Portuguese, too. Petiscos are Portugal’s tackle tapas, and having fun with a number 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 just a little deeper to uncover the most effective 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 present you my tackle the place the best petiscos may be discovered!

These are my must-try petiscos in Lisbon and the most effective locations to search 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 title 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 normally 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 likely one of the many unbelievable Lisbon spots for amêijoas á bulhão pato. The classic decor takes me again in time at any time when 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 appropriate degree 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 normally 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 imagine 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 title, 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 residence to my favourite tackle pica-pau. Should you haven’t guessed by the title, this place makes a speciality of 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 higher 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 are simply among the many most recognizable petiscos in Lisbon.

Like most of the metropolis’s best dishes, the origins of pastéis de bacalhau are unclear. Nonetheless, they doubtless happened sooner or later throughout the 1800s, as this was when comparable 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 cause. Even with its picture-perfect old-school inside, all the main target 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, smooth potato, and crunchy batter.

Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau (€€) – R. Augusta 106, 1100-053 Lisboa, Portugal – Open each day 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 function.

Sardines have been a staple for Lisbon locals for hundreds of years, because of the town’s long-standing affiliation with the Atlantic. Through the years, grilling these flavor-packed fish over charcoal has grow to be a summertime custom, as sardines are usually solely obtainable from Could to August.

The standard means of serving sardines is with only a contact of lemon, olive oil, and a aspect 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 purple onions and bitter parsley, the briny, oily fish flavors grow to be extra intense with every chew. I teamed it with a glass of citrussy albarino from the wine checklist that countered the salty notes from the fish.

Lisbon Tu e Eu (€) – R da Adiça 58, 1100-116 Lisboa, Portugal – Open each day 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. Could till August is usually the one time of 12 months when the climate is heat sufficient to provide caracóis.

Caracóis are normally cooked in garlic, oregano, and rosemary broth. A portion of bread usually comes with this steaming bowl of snails to profit from the remaining soup.

The place to Eat It?

If I’m within the metropolis throughout the summer time, I attempt to make it to Tico Tico no less than as soon as. It’s just a little additional out of the middle than lots of my different favourite spots for petiscos in Lisbon, however its full of life ambiance and excellent meals are value 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 each day 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 title interprets to little fish from the backyard. Though the historical past of peixinhos da horta continues to be up for debate, some imagine 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?

Moving into Petisqueira Conqvistador can really feel like strolling into somebody’s kitchen. The wood 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 aspect was silky, pungent pepper sauce, which I believed was an unconventional however well-matched accompaniment.

Should you’ve ever joined my meals and wine excursions in Lisbon, you could have heard me point out how properly these pair with the tropical undertones of an arinto white.

Petisqueira Conqvistador (€€) – Television. de São Bartolomeu 4, 1100-059 Lisboa, Portugal – Open each day 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 just a few petiscos is a should.

These small dishes showcase the most effective of Portuguese meals and, higher nonetheless, help you pattern an abundance of dishes abruptly!