Christmas 2022: Portugal Celebrates It With These Festive Foods

Portugal's regional differences in traditional Christmas fare are apparent. One aspect is nearly always present, and that is Bolo Rei! It's a spherical fruit cake with a hole in the centre, and it appears as a crown. The cake's crust signifies gold, while the dried fruits and nuts represent priceless gems.

Like many other parts of the world, roasted turkey features the Christmas culinary spread in Portugal. It's served with mashed potatoes, stir-fried or steamed vegetables, and at times a serving of rice. On December 25th, a lunchtime meal featuring this incredibly popular meal is customary.

This classic food is typically served for Christmas Eve dinner on the 24th of December. This supper is known as "consoada" in Portugal. Bacalhau, the traditional Christmas dish, consists of boiled codfish served with potatoes and veggies sprinkled with olive oil.

This delectable fried pastry is created with milk, lemon rind, salt, wheat flour, and eggs and is another Christmas staple. Some versions in Portugal additionally contain a splash of freshly churned orange juice or "aguardente," one of Portugal's most traditional liquors.

Rabanadas, Portuguese-style French toast, are typically served during Christmas. It goes well with a glass of port wine for a festive dessert. These sugary toasts resemble French toast, but they're much more delicious. They are best served warm, either on their own or with a sprinkle of honey.