If you love Caldo Verde or Kale Soup like my son, you’ll love my new Keto Diet, low carb recipe for Caldo Verde. He’s on a low carb diet, so that means potatoes are out of his diet.
This recipe tastes pretty close to the original recipe for Caldo Verde here on my blog. I substituted mashed cauliflower for the potatoes and it works! Give it a try and be sure to improvise with your own seasonings.
3 (14 oz) packages of frozen cauliflower or (3 pounds fresh cauliflower)
1 large onion (chopped)
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil or more
2 to 3 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1 bay leaf
2 to 3 cups finely chifounade collard greens or kale
6 to 8 oz. Chourico Portuguese sausage
Preparation:
In a medium saucepan bring the water and chicken broth to a boil. Add the cauliflower, onion, salt, pepper and olive oil. Cook for 8 – 10 minutes on medium heat until cauliflower is cooked.
Remove bay leaf. Puree the cauliflower and onion to a creamy consistency.
Add the chourico and collards. Cook for 10 minutes on medium heat until the collards are cooked to your desired taste.
Note: You may need to add more or less broth for a thinner/thicker broth.
Remove the chourico and cut into thin slices. Set aside to serve as garnish with 3 slices for each bowl of soup.
Optional: Add a drizzle of olive oil and fresh ground pepper to each serving.
The Romeo and Juliet – Cheese and Marmelade Sandwich
The love story of the perfect couple; Romeo and Juliet, inspired the name for this perfect sandwich combination of tangy Sao Jorge cheese from the Azores, Portugal and sweet Quince Marmelada.
However, feel free to use any of your favorite sharp cheese if you can’t get the Sao Jorge type.
The true Portuguese love story of Ines de Castro and King Pedrohappened long before Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet but it is said, that this story of love – tragedy – and of a haunting, may have been Shakespeare’s inspiration.
Prince Pedro, the son of King Afonso IV was the heir to the Portuguese throne. When he was 19 his father had him marry Constança of Castile (Spain) in order to build an alliance in 1340.
Ines de Castro,a daughter of a nobleman from Castile, was a lady-in-waiting to the Princess Constance. Ines was a radiant beauty who stole Pedro’s heart and they quickly fell madly in love.
Click on the image below for the love story.
Recipe for Marmelada – Quince Marmelade
Ingredients:
4 and ½ pounds Quince
2 and ½ cups sugar
1 cinnamon stick
Water as needed
Preparation:
Wash, peel and remove pits from fruit and cut into chunks. Place fruit in a pan and cover with water. Add cinnamon stick and cook until cooked. Drain and remove cinnamon stick.
Puree with immersion blender until creamy. In the same pan, add sugar and cook on medium heat stirring often until a clear line forms in the center of pan with a wooden spoon.
Cool and place in plastic containers. Store up to 3 months in refrigerator.
I hope you enjoy this sheet pan Salmon and Asparagus dinner which cooks in only 20-25 minutes. Serve it with a tower of Portuguese Tomato Rice for great presentation.
Make extra because the salmon and asparagus are also delicious served cold as a salad. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
3 or 4 (8 oz) portions of fresh salmon
2 pounds fresh asparagus (washed and edges trimmed)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper
lemon wedges
Basil Butter
1/4 cup basil leaves
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
fresh dill for garnish optional
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Make the butter first by placing the garlic, basil leaves, salt and lemon juice in food processor. Blend until a paste forms. Add butter and mix well.
Arrange the asparagus flat across a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and shake pan to coat evenly.
Place the salmon evenly over the asparagus and top with a scoop of basil butter. Place a dill sprig under butter if desired.
Cook for 20-25 minutes until salmon is fully cooked. Drizzle with squeezed juice from lemon wedges.
This easy recipe is can be a lunch, snack, side dish or a main dish. Serve it warm or cold. Make this ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. If you don’t have salt cod available in your area, you can use cooked fresh cod or haddock.
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1 or 2 cans of cooked chick peas (drained and rinsed)
1 pound of cooked salt cod (flaked)
1 large onion (sliced)
3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
6 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons wine vinegar to taste (optional)
olives for garnish
Preparation:
Saute the onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil for a few minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
Note: If you want to serve this dish warm add the chickpeas and cod to the onions and saute until warm. Then add the garnishes on top before serving.
In a large dish, layer the chickpeas, then the cod. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the onions, and the eggs. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and vinegar if desired.
Alheira derives its name from the Portuguese word “alho” meaning “garlic. The Alheira was was originally a garlicky, pork-free sausage said to have been originated by the Portuguese Jews during the time of the Inquisition. The Jews used chicken instead of pork in the sausage to throw off suspicion that they weren’t Christians.
Today, you will find the sausage made with lots of garlic, spices, pork, chicken or other meats and sometimes even salt cod is used.
Note: The sausage is smoked so don’t worry about it being raw. We cook the sausage to heat it and to obtain a nice crispy skin to obtain it’s garlicky flavor.
Note: Cook on low heat, or you may find that it will break apart and and ooze out the filling. However if it does, don’t worry because it’s still delicious.
Rinse and dry the sausage with paper towels and set aside to completely dry.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small skillet on low heat.
Place the sausage in the oil, cover and cook for about 5 minutes. Turn over on each side until you achieve the nice crispy skin. You may have to turn over once in a while.
Slice carefully with a sharp knife and serve with crusty Portuguese bread.
Air Fryer:
Rinse and dry the sausage with paper towels and set aside to completely dry.
Brush sausage with a little olive oil on both sides.
Set air fryer to 375. Degrees.
Gently pierce the skin in a few places.
Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, turning them over to crisp.
Note that they burst slightly in cooking process. This is normal.
Merry Christmas Everyone! Here’s a special recipe for you.
Recipe #48 Taste Portugal 101 Easy recipes cookbook
Portuguese Baked Stuffed Shrimp
Warning!!! This baked stuffed shrimp will drive shrimp lovers crazy! What makes this a Portuguese recipe? The papo secos of course! They’re perfect to make this stuffing because they have great texture and taste which makes a perfect match with the shrimp.
The dish was a very popular menu item at my brother’s Portuguese/American restaurant many years ago. I’ve adapted it through the years and I make for special occasions and holidays such as Easter and Christmas.
The recipe has a lot of steps, but once you make it and see how easy it is, you’ll never through away your old Papo Secos again! Just freeze the rolls in plastic freezer bags.
The stuffing is very versatile so you can use it to stuff fish, chicken, or even mushrooms (see the photos below). Make a double batch of the stuffing and freeze it in freezer safe plastic bags or bowls.
These shrimp take only 15-20 minutes to bake so it’s an elegant and easy dish to prepare to impress your guests. Serve with Portuguese Rice of course!
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
2 pounds extra large shrimp (about 10-12 per pound) (peeled & deveined)
3 papo seco rolls (preferably day old)
15 Ritz crackers or any brand of buttery crackers
1 package garlic flavored croutons
1/2 cup celery (finely minced)
1/2 cup onion (finely minced)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) of melted butter
1 pound of small or medium raw shrimp (peeled & deveined)
1/4 cup of white wine
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 small chicken bouillon cube
2 tablespoons parsley (finely chopped)
Instructions:
Step 1. Peel both sizes of shrimp into separate bowls and reserve the shells. Cook the shells in 3 cups of water and a pinch of salt for about 8 minutes. Strain the broth into a big bowl and let it cool. Throw away the shells.
Step 2. In a small skillet, saute the onion and celery with olive oil for 5 minutes until translucent on medium low heat. Remove the onions and celery with a slotted spoon leaving some of olive oil in the pan. Set the onion mix aside to cool.
Step 3. In the same skillet, add the small shrimp, bouillon cube, garlic, salt and paprika and cook for 1 minute until the shrimp turns slightly pink. Add the wine and cook for another 3 minutes for the wine to reduce. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the shrimp cool while you prepare the bread stuffing.
Step 4. Chop the Papo Seco bread (or any crusty day old bread) into small chunks and place into the bowl with the shrimp broth.
Let the bread sit for about 10 minutes to absorb the broth. Mash the bread with your fingers or a fork until it very dissolved with no big chunks left. The bread should be the constancy of a wet dough like batter. If you find the bread too dry add a little more water.
Step 5. Crumble the crackers with your hands into the bread. Add the cooked onions and celery and mix the stuffing very well. The stuffing will be wet, but if you find it runny add more finely diced bread or crackers.
Add the cooled shrimp and parsley into the stuffing and mix well. Taste and add more salt if desired. Set aside while you prep the shrimp for stuffing.
The stuffing will have a soft dough consistency and a golden delicious color like this photo.
Step 6. Prep the large shrimp for stuffing by gently slicing at the curved end in the butterfly cut. The stuffing goes into the center leaving the tail curved over.
Grease a cooking tray and place each shrimp butterfly up in the pan. Scoop 1 tablespoon or more of the stuffing into the center of the shrimp.
Step 7. Place the croutons in a Ziploc plastic bag. Close tightly making sure no air is left inside. Crumble the croutons into very fine bread crumb like crumbs. This should yield about 1 and 1/2 cups. Don’t be stingy with the croutons. Pile them on the shrimp since they cook up crispy and flavorful.
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon over each shrimp and then add a little melted butter over each one.
***Note you can place the shrimp assembled on a sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap and cook the next day.***
Step 8. Cook in a 375 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes until the shrimp is pink and golden brown.
Remove from the oven. You can leave them in the oven on very low heat to keep them warm before serving or to reheat them.
Be careful since they may become dry if the heat is too high or you leave them in the oven to long. Drizzle more melted butter on top before serving.
Make stuffed mushrooms with any leftover stuffing. Wash and dry the mushrooms and remove the caps.
Place them in a buttered baking dish, fill with the stuffing, croutons and butter.
Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes until cooked. Heat a can of cream of mushroom soup or shrimp soup and gently spoon around the mushrooms when cooked.
“Feliz Natal” or “Boas Festas” translates to “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”!
The Holiday season in Portugal is celebrated as a time for family, of giving and sharing. Towns and homes are decorated with lights and with “Scenes of the Nativity”, or the Presépio which is the main focal point of the Christmas decorations in the Portuguese homes. Some towns mount a living Nativity Scene, with locals and live animals playing the roles at scene at the birth of Christ.
The creche scene was the idea of St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th Century to re-create the stable where Jesus was born at Christmas.
According to the gospels, the crib represents the stable where Jesus was born, a place that is still worshiped in Bethlehem today, at the Basilica of the Nativity.
Based on the interpretation of the Old Testament gospels, the Nativity was represented in the 4th century by the image of the Baby Jesus lying on the ground, accompanied by figures representing the ox, the donkey and the shepherds. The representation of the Crib began to spread from the 8th century onwards.
In Portugal, many creche scenes have locally crafted clay figures. In the cribs at Estremoz and Barcelos, as well as to the baroque cribs designed by the sculptor Machado de Castro at theLisbon cathedral or by the sculptor António Ferreira at theBasílica da Estrela.
The nativity from the 18th century is centered around the Nativity and the arrival of the Three Wise Men at Bethlehem, but it also recreates Portuguese rural settings, crafts, professions and clothing worn at that time that are now longer used.
Crib Sculpture by António Ferreira at the Basílica da Estrela
Christmas Nativity Portugal
Consoada – Christmas Eve Dinner
On Christmas Eve, a family dinner known as the night of the “Consoada” is celebrated. The word Consoada refers to a small meal that is taken at the end of a day´s fasting and derives from the Latin word consolare, meaning “to comfort”.
For most Catholics, (Advent) the period of preparation for Christmas, begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
Advent is also refereed to as “little Lent,” because, like lent, it is a time of repentance and fasting. Fasting during Advent used to be universal, most Western Christians today treat Advent as a “Before Christmas Day”.
In the North of Portugal (Minho, Porto and Guimarães), it is the custom for people to reserve places at the table set for the Consoada supper for those relatives who have recently passed away, or else to leave the table laid and a candle or lamp lit throughout the night to comfort and warm their souls. Some families light a “Christmas log,” or cepo de Natal, a piece of oak that burns on the hearth.
Traditionally, the Christmas Eve supper consists of abstaining from meat dishes. The traditional fish, is Bacalhau (salted cod), but other regions eat Polvo (Octopus), or another fish. Many appetizers such as, Bolinhos de Bacalhau, Rissois de Camarao, and many other treats are served. Christmas day meals usually consist of meat dishes such as roast Pork, chicken, or lamb.
Traditional Christmas treats such as Portuguese cheeses, nuts, and fruits and many desserts adorn the Christmas diner table. The most popular desserts are: “filhoses or filhós“, “Sonhos“, “Rabanadas”, “Aletria”, “Arroz Doce”, and “Pao de Lo” are some of the favorites. Many other regional desserts are prepared according to ancient recipes that are passed on from generation to generation.
Missa do Galo or midnight mass, is a custom among Catholics who celebrate Christmas. The Missa do Galo was first included the Christmas celebrations during the 5th century. It is celebrated at midnight, which is the time referred to as being “in galli cantu” (at cock crow), and it was originally the first of three masses comprising the liturgy of Christmas Day.
During the Missa do Galo, people can admire the crib, which has been specially prepared for the occasion, and, after communion, everyone moves up to the altar to “kiss the Baby Jesus”, an act that is sometimes accompanied by songs of worship.
In the regions of Bragança, Guarda or Castelo Branco, a Yule log is burned in the atrium of the village church after mass. It helps keep everyone warm through the night and to wish family and friends a Merry Christmas.
Gifts
Santa Claus is named “Pai Natal” (father Christmas). Some families open the presents on Christmas Eve at midnight, while others wait until after Midnight mass. Many open the gifts after the Christmas Eve diner. Others open them in the morning of the 25th, Christmas Day. Some families put one shoe of each child next to the chimney or fireplace instead of a stocking. Children right letters to baby Jesus asking for gifts rather than Santa Claus.
Ano Novo – New Year
Traditionally, people go out to the streets to sing “Janeiras” (January songs) between December 25 and January 6. The Janeiras (January songs) is a Portuguese tradition consists of a group of people strolling the streets of a town singing in the New Year.
To the modern eye, Janeiras is like Christmas caroling as this tradition involves a group of friends or neighbors going from house to house singing and sometimes playing instruments. While singing, they review the most important events of the year with a spirit of happiness and great humor. They sing traditional songs and those who pass by are wished a Happy New Year full of luck.
Once the song is done the singers are rewarded with chestnuts, nuts, apples, and cured sausages. These days, chocolates are often offered too. The Janeiras tradition varies from region to region.
In the Algarve, residents form charolas, which are spontaneously formed groups that join together to sing songs of both a religious and a secular nature.
Also in the Algarve, singers receive traditional alms such as one of the seasonal sweet fritters or a glass of brandy. Every year, the municipality of Silves has a festival in January to welcome in the New Year by singing.
New Year’s Eve in Portugal is filled with celebrations. People get together in the 31st December, usually for dinner, and celebrate all night long, saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new one — hoping it will bring only good things.
The party in Madeira is renowned for being the most dazzling, with a display of light and color over the whole island you can even see from the ocean. At midnight, there’s a fireworks display in every town.
Everyone eats 12 raisins, with one wish for each month, and drinks champagne to bring in the New Year.
The Bolo Rei (literally the King Cake) is a cake made in the shape of a crown, filled and decorated with dry and crystallized fruits. Hidden inside the cake are a broad bean and a surprise gift. The person who ends up with the slice containing the broad bean is traditionally the one who should provide the next cake. The cake is eaten on Christmas and also on “Dia de Reis” the 12th day of Christmas – Day of Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men arrived at the Nativity and brought gifts to baby Jesus.
Dia de Reis – Kings Day – Day of Epiphany
“Dia de Reis” known as the day of the Epiphany is on the 12th day of Christmas. Children put out their shoes, with carrots and straw to attract the camels of the Three Wise Men hoping that the shoes will be filled with gifts in the morning.
is a particular favorite of the Portuguese during Christmas and is traditionally eaten on January 6, day of Epiphany. The date when the three kings arrived in Jerusalem to greet the newborn baby Jesus. The legend is that the three kings were disputing which one of them would be the first to give their gift to Jesus. Upon their travels they met a baker who baked a cake with a bean inside it. Which ever one of them got the slice of cake with the bean would give their gift first. Through the years coins and trinkets were added to the cake instead of the bean which would bring good luck upon the bearer. Whoever gets the bean has to buy the “Bolo Rei” (King Cake) in the coming year.
New Year in Madeira
During the family reunion on Christmas Eve it is customary in each madeiran household to have chicken broth, apart from other meat dishes. Also, families usually drink the typical homemade tangerine, orange and anise liqueurs or even a glass of Madeira Wine.
On Christmas Day, generally one chooses pork loin marinated in wine and garlic dish or stuffed turkey.
Other common sweets delicacies of this holiday season are the “family cake”, the Madeira Honey Cake, apart from the popular butter rings or honey or butter biscuits.
Meat in Wine and Garlic
1 kg porkloin (with some fat)
2 cups of wine vinegar
Rock salt, to taste
10 garlic cloves
Bread slices, as needed
Bay leaves
Pepper, marjoram, savory
Cut the meat in cubes and season with salt. On the following day, make a marinade with the vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, pepper and herbs. Place the meat in the marinade for at least three days, in a clay pot. Fry with the marinade and serve with the bread, fried in the grease, baked sweet potatoes, fried cornmeal and orange slices.
Madeira Honey Cake
Ingredients for the leavening:
500 g unleavened flour
30 g leavening (baker’s yeast)
about 3 dl water
Knead the flour with the yeast, make a ball, cover with plastic and let rise for 2 to 3 hours.
Remaining ingredients:
1000 g unleavened flour
350 g sugar
300 g butter
150 g lard
clove (about 1.5 g)
fennel (about 1.5g)
15 g cinnamon
50 g nuts
50 g chopped almonds
lemon zest
400 g mixed crystallized fruit
150 g sultanas
15 g baking soda
juice of 1 orange
8 dl Madeira molasses
2 dl Madeira wine
Baking instructions:
Mix the butter with the sugar until creamy, add spices and juice of an orange and a little lemon zest. Melt the molasses and lard together and add to mixture. Add the flour and baking soda and mix for about five minutes. Add to this dough the leaven previously kneaded and continue to mix for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Lastly, add the crystallized fruit and mix for an additional five minutes. Let rise for 24 hours. Place the dough in greased and wax paper-lined pans (only the bottom of the pan) and decorate the cakes with almonds and nuts on top. Bake them in a 190o degree oven, for 25 minutes. Honey cake is broken by hand.
NOTE: Use pans with removable bottoms, with a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 4 cm and place dough 3 cm high.
Tangerine Liqueur
Ingredients:
1 l sugar cane rum
1 l water
1kg sugar
Rinds of 6/7 tangerines (large and ripe)
Preparation:
Finely cut the tangerine rind, with no white so as to not be bitter. Steep the rinds in the sugar cane rum for 15 days. Once the steeping time has passed, add water and sugar and heat to make simple syrup.
Add simple syrup to the sugar cane rum, removing rinds and filtering the liqueur. It is now ready to serve.
Christmas Tree image credit: http://www.davestravelcorner.com/journals/destination-europe/portuguese-christmas-traditions/
Hello everyone. Here’s our collection of classic Christmas recipes Videos collection. Visit our Youtube Channel and enjoy a Taste of Portugal during your celebrations!
Pasteis de Bacalhau – Bolinhos de Bacalhau
Camarao a Mocambique – Portuguese Shrimp Mozambique
Pataniscas de Bacalhau – Salt Codfish Cakes
Rabanadas – Portuguese Style French Toast
Pudim Flan – Caramel Flan
Pao Doce – Portuguese Sweet Bread
Pao de Lo – Portuguese Sponge Cake -12 Days of a Portuguese Christmas
Biscoitos – Biscuit Cookies – 12 Days of Portuguese Christmas
Arroz Doce – Sweet Rice Pudding – 12 Days of a Portuguese Christmas
Cavacas – Popover Pastry – 12 Days of a Portuguese Christmas
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