Christmas in Portugal is a magical, tasty time of year. What to eat on Christmas in Portugal, there are many options available for you. While the country is full of Michelin starred eateries and innovative chefs offering delicious food year-round, during the festive season, it’s the time-honored, traditional food that you’re going to want to try. From bolo rei and Sonhos to bacalhau de console and Leite crème, whether you have a sweet tooth or you prefer savory festive fare, here are the traditional Christmas food in Portugal.

Lit of Christmas Dishes in Portugal

1. Rabanadas

Rabanadas are slices of a loaf of bread like Indian ‘Shahi Tukda’ It is nothing but bread soaked in either milk, wine or sugar syrup, then also in eggs, then fried with sunflower oil. There are several ways to serve this famous Christmas food in Portugal. For instance, you have chocolate ones, and ovos moles ones which are sweet from Aveiro made with eggs yolks and sugar. I’m not quite sure about the recipe for ovos moles, but the Portuguese love it! It’s used in many other desserts, especially in the northern regions of Portugal.

2. Bolo-rei

We find this traditional Christmas food in Portugal is a kind of similar to a fruitcake, but it’s actually pretty different from it. It’s topped with crystalized fruits, sweetmeat. It goes perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea on the afternoon of December, 25th.

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3. Bacalhau com Todos

The Bacalhau com todos are the most traditional Portuguese dish you will get to eat for Christmas. It is such a simple dish but the Portuguese love it, and so will you. The Bacalhau com todos are simply composed of boiled potatoes, cabbage, eggs, and codfish fillet. People eat it with a drizzle of olive oil and chopped garlic. This is the dish you will see in every home! It is pretty simple to make and so delicious.

4. Roupa Velha de Bacalhau

Christmas day lunch in Portugal is incomplete without Roupa Velha de Bacalhau. If we translate this traditional dish name to English, it means “codfish old clothes“, because of the colors of the ingredients and of the way the ingredients and their flavors mix together. The potatoes, the cabbage, the codfish are cut into smaller pieces and sautéed in a pan with olive oil. It is a great way to avoid wasting food since people make a brand new dish from the leftovers of Christmas’ eve dinner. It’s very popular in Portugal. On December, 25th, the families wake up, prepare their Roupa Velha de Bacalhau Christmas lunch and spend the day together.

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5. Cabrito Assado No Forno

In some regions of Portugal, people also have cabrito Assado no Forno, which is oven-roasted lamb with roasted potatoes. It is one of the most traditional Portuguese dishes. This dish is usually served for important events such as Christmas, New Year’s eve, and family gatherings like on Sundays. Every family has its own cabrito Assado recipe and way of cooking. So, you will have to try several to figure out your favorite.

6. Filhós

Made with flour, brandy, milk, eggs then the dough is shaped into little balls and these are fried then sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. We are talking about Filhós, one of the most traditional Christmas desserts. Have one or two, but not too much because they are pretty calorie dense!

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7. Arroz Doce

The recipe for Arroz Doce is pretty similar to the Aletria one. You mostly only have to switch from pasta to rice. You’ve probably already had this dessert, known as rice pudding. Arroz Doce is another common Christmas dish you will find on Portuguese Christmas tables. You can take this dish after Christmas dinner in Portugal.

8. Leite creme

Leite creme is a little similar to the French “crême brulée”. But Portuguese people have unique cooking skills. Leite creme is boiled while the crême brulée goes into the oven. It is one of the traditional Christmas foods in Portugal. The ingredients are also slightly different. You should try the Portuguese Leite creme, and choose which one successes your heart. This dessert is served all around the nation, so you will likewise effectively discover it while visiting Portugal for Christmas.

9. Peru Recheado

For Thanksgiving, people in the United States usually have stuffed turkey. In certain regions of Portugal, we do as well. This Christmas cuisines in Portugal is the one you will find in every table on the night of Christmas’ eve, but some people also enjoy having stuffed turkey at the table, with mashed potatoes and beets. In Portuguese, it’s called “Peru recheado“. The recipe for the turkey stuffing can be different from one house to another. Some cooks do it with vegetables, others rather make the stuffing with meat. You will find many stuffed turkey recipes on the Internet.

10. Aletria 

After the Christmas main course, let me introduce Portuguese Christmas dessert which is the best ever! Pastries are certainly a serious deal. Subsequent to eating the fundamental dish, the pastries march starts. Delightful Christmas pastries begin to adjust to the table for our pleasure. Made with vermicelli pasta, otherwise called “heavenly attendant hair”, milk, sugar, yolks of eggs, cinnamon and chips of lemon or orange, not a solitary Christmas table abandons a plate of Aletria. It is additionally straightforward and simple to get ready, however delicious and great: the best Christmas dessert. While in Portugal for Christmas, you won’t experience any difficulty discovering places serving it.




These are the traditional Christmas food in Portugal and this article is letting us know about the famous Christmas food in Portugal. Hope this article is beneficial for you as it provides information about tasty Christmas food in Portugal.

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