Without asserting bias one way or the other, Portuguese food is delicious! (Okay, maybe there's a slight bias here.) Still, Portuguese food tastes unbelievably good. That's why it's a shame that more people don't know about the flavors and dishes in this cuisine. However, a Portuguese restaurant is a great place to learn them.
The Key Ingredients
Portuguese cuisine keeps it simple. The recipes create big flavors from a few ingredients. One of the most important components is the use of quality basics such as fresh meat and seafood, high-grade spices, and a willingness to let the food reach its full potential via unobtrusive cooking techniques. That said, many of the dishes do utilize five key spices. They are:
-Bay Leaves: Just about every soup and stew contains a distinctive vibrancy of bay leaves. The leaves are harvested from bushes that are native to the homeland, so it only makes sense that they're used often with delicious results.
-Cinnamon: Many in the western world are used to cinnamon being used in desserts. The Portuguese use it in desserts, too. However, they use cinnamon in savory dishes as well. Cinnamon adds depth, and it is best when combined with fatty substances in a warm, juicy recipe.
-Paprika: Long ago, the Portuguese made paprika a household name through global trade and exploration. Most of the dishes use a milder version of this pungent pepper spice, but it can be hot if needed.
-Piri-piri: This small, African pepper packs the heat. It can be added to dishes in its original form or made into a sauce or paste. It often appears on tables along with salt and pepper. And speaking of salt...
-Salt: Healthy dashes of salt are a must to accent Portuguese cuisine. In fact, a good cook knows that salt accents any cuisine. Without salt, tastebuds fall into despair. Salt highlights the positive vibes of each and every ingredient while downplaying bitterness. No spice can survive on its own in a dish without it.
Popular Dishes
Understanding the basic ingredients definitely whets the appetite. Armed with such a whet, many people will have a hard time deciding which dishes to order at a Portuguese restaurant.
Some good selections are:
-Caldo Verde: This traditional soup contains bay leaves, kale, potatoes, and onions mixed with garlic and olive oil. It's the perfect dish during cold weather.
-Cozido a Portuguesa: This hearty stew contains a smorgasbord of meat including beef and chicken, plus bits of blood sausages, all mixed with bay leaves.
-Frango Assado: Portugal's version of barbecued chicken is out of this world. It often contains cinnamon and turmeric. Piri-piri hot sauce coats the chicken, providing a spicy pop.
-Paella: This dish offers simple goodness boosted by ingredients from the land and sea. Chicken, shrimp, garlic, paprika, peas, rice, and garlic all combine with saffron to produce an instant taste sensation.
-Sweet Bread: A traditional dessert with simple ingredients including milk, sugar or honey (sometimes both!), eggs, yeast, flour, a bit of lemon peel, and cinnamon. This bread proves to be irresistible.
A Portuguese restaurant is the place to learn more about one of the world's best cuisines. It will dazzle guests with an array of food fit for hearty appetites!
To learn more about their options for a Portuguese restaurant, Neward, NJ residents should visit www.chateauofspain.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anders_Abadie
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