The Flavors of the Alto Douro Vinhateiro

If there are countless reasons to discover the Douro, then the traditional gastronomy is the best of them all.

We already know that the Douro is well known for its Port Wines, the famous nectar of the region. But believe that the Douro delicacies are not far behind.

Whether you stop by the region's restaurants, or decide to take a Douro cruise with lunch on board, we promise you won't regret any of the experiences.

Take a look at the list of traditional gastronomy of the Alto Douro Vinhateiro that we (really!) recommend you try.

 

APPETIZER

 

SAUSAGES AND CHEESES

To start the meal, there's nothing like having a cheese and sausage board at your disposal. Accompanied with the best Portuguese wines, it is a delicacy that you will want to try.

We recommend enjoying the famous Douro sausages (chorizo, sausage, ham, paio, among many others), accompanied by olives from the region and a selection of cheeses.

 

LAMEGO HAM

If you don't need a board with several sausages, and want to try just one of them, we recommend the Lamego Ham. It is very popular as a starter, often accompanied by melon, good traditional bread and good wine.

Creativity is often used to make more elaborate dishes with ham.

 

BÔLA DE LAMEGO

Bôla de Lamego has been around since the 19th century and has since become a typical dish of traditional Douro cuisine, and its production continues to this day.

It is based on several ingredients, and is a “fluffy” dough that can have several fillings: from ham, sausage, garlic vinaigrette and even cod.

Its original recipe is the one we continue to try today and is traditionally made in old taverns and in the homes of the inhabitants of Lamego.

As well as being a good starter, you can also enjoy it as a snack or as an aperitif at festive dinners.

 

MAIN COURSE

 

ROASTED GOAT IN A WOOD OVEN

This dish is considered a true icon of traditional – and national – cuisine, and one of the great heritages of Trás-os-Montes.

Trás-os-Montes is a region of mountainous slopes, which creates the perfect environmental conditions for raising goats.

The roast kid is usually accompanied by oven rice and roasted potatoes, and in some areas it is also accompanied, seasonally, by chestnuts.

The process of roasting the meat is usually done in a wood oven, although new roasting processes are appearing, which do not detract from the quality of this delicacy.

 

COZIDO À TRANSMONTANA

This dish is famous for the variety and richness of ingredients.

It involves all the variety of sausages and smoked meats from the region, together with a wide variety of meats and vegetables.

Something even more typical is to use the cooking water of all these ingredients to make tasty oven rice.

This delicacy used to be prepared in iron pots, which made it taste even more unique and traditional.

 

POSTA À MIRANDESA

It is one of the most famous dishes of the traditional gastronomy and culture of Trás-os-Montes. It consists of a steak usually accompanied by mashed potatoes and pepper salad.

The real Mirandesa steak originates from the Miranda do Douro beef breed and is cut to the approximate size of the palm of a hand, passed over coals and seasoned with salt to taste.

 

BAKED COD FISH

Baked codfish is also a typical recipe from Trás-os-Montes cuisine.

The cod goes to the oven, seasoned with pepper, garlic and olive oil. You can also take crumbled rye bread over the cod, and the dish is usually accompanied with potatoes.

This is one of the most appreciated foods by the Portuguese. In the traditional cure of this food, chemical substances are not added, which means that the nutritional properties of the fish are maintained.

 

DESSERT

 

RESENDE CAVACAS

Cavacas from Resende are a traditional sweet treat and continue to be made the old-fashioned way today. They are mixed by hand and cooked in wood-fired ovens.

Only three ingredients are needed to make it – eggs, flour and sugar – however, it is said that tradition is one of the secrets to the success of this delicacy.

It is not known when it originated, but it is known that the recipe is quite old. It is one of the most appreciated sweets in the region and is usually sold at local festivals and pilgrimages.

 

RÉGUA CANDY

Next to the station in the city of Régua there are several ladies who sell these sweets. They are bought in bags with several units and come wrapped in paper in the form of a bow.

Although they are made with sugar and lemon, each candy maker makes the candy in their own way.

Before, these sweets were only sold at local festivals and in the surrounding area. Nowadays, these are part of the identity of Peso da Régua and are already known nationally.

 

BISCOITO DA TEIXEIRA

Biscoito, or Sweet, from Teixeira is a very popular sweet in the Douro. Its origin is not known, but it is said to be a recipe with more than two centuries.

It is a rectangular shaped cake with an intense and characteristic flavor. Lemon is used to flavor it, and cinnamon is often also added.

We find this delicacy at any fair or party in the Douro region. Although we can find the recipe on any website, it is said that only people who have been making it for years truly know its secret.

 

We are sure that your mouth is already watering. The traditional Douro gastronomy has several recipes that please everyone and all tastes. The gastronomic experiences in the Douro are extraordinary and make us want to try more and more.

An equally extraordinary experience is enjoying a cruise on the? Douro with lunch on board. On the cruise between Régua e o Pinhão, for example, you can enjoy a delicious lunch while sailing through the waters of the Douro River. You will have the opportunity to taste some of the typical dishes of the region while enjoying a glass of Port Wine.

Come to Alto Douro Vinhateiro, taste the best delicacies in the region and live the best experiences. We are sure you will want to come back!