Hi, I am Chef Zara. In this post, I will guide you through the Portuguese Cookbooks.
I love discovering new food and cooking with friends and family. One of the most common questions that I often get is for cookbook recommendations. I have created this guide for friends, family, and new friends alike. I hope that you enjoy our site.
What you need to know about Portuguese cuisine
Portuguese foods have made a statement over the years and have become some of the most highly craved dishes, known for their richness and scrumptiousness. Restaurants in Portugal have attested to having many foreign customers crave Portuguese cuisine on their trip to the country. Portuguese ingredients are diverse and so are the methods of preparation. However, there are some ingredients you cannot miss, as they form the basis of most Portuguese dishes. The local Portuguese cuisine is made with meat, vegetables, seafood, and legumes, with unique combinations of spices. These ingredients are combined to produce classic Portuguese dishes.
This guide takes you through our favorite Portuguese cookbooks, and if you are trying out Portuguese cooking for the first time, there are 3 Portuguese cookbooks for beginners that will help you with the fundamentals. Now, let’s get started!
Here are 10 Portuguese Cookbooks for you! You can’t miss these amazing recipes!
1. Lisboeta
Review 📖
Lisbon is described as the heart of Portugal by many, a visit to this beautiful city could leave you in awe for a long period, and you might find yourself missing the sumptuous Portuguese cuisine while you are away. If that sounds familiar, this cookbook is the perfect one for you, as it contains beautiful stories and recipes that will remind you of all the beautiful things you love about Lisbon, from fluffy doughnuts to well-baked lamb chanfana. This cookbook includes recipes and delicious dishes that take you on a journey back to Lisbon.
About the Author✍️
Nuno Mendes, a native of the beautiful city of Lisbon and a chef, uses this book to share delicious recipes and a feel of how magnificent his city looks on a typical day.
2. Authentic Portuguese Cooking
Review 📖
Portuguese cooking is one of the world’s most cherished food cultures, and this collection of recipes proves to readers why it is so. With the easy-to-understand methods for Portuguese food preparation, you can satisfy your cravings for homemade Portugal dishes by following the instructions and recipes in the book. Alternatives are also supplied for ingredients that are not readily available—a well-thought-out cookbook.
About the Author ✍️
Ana Patuleia Ortins’s parents are immigrants from Portugal, and she shares her knowledge about Portugal dishes in this cookbook. As an experienced teacher of Portuguese cooking, Ana uses simple and easy-to-understand terms in her book of recipes.
3. For the Love of Portuguese Food
Review 📖
This Portuguese cookbook recipe shows that love is an important ingredient in the Portugal kitchen. This cookbook takes readers back many decades ago when grandmothers sat to cook by using inspirational tips, pictures, and personal stories.
For those who have been making traditional Portuguese recipes and want new dishes to try out, and also for those who are dipping their toes into the cuisine of Portugal for the first time, this is the best cookbook for you. It is particularly helpful for those who have grown up eating authentic Portuguese cuisine and want to reminisce.
About the Author ✍️
Milena Rodrigues, born to immigrants from Portugal, is well accustomed to Portugal traditions. She compiles her knowledge of what goes into preparing homemade Portuguese foods and shares this in her cookbook.
4. My Portugal
Review 📖
These 125 Portuguese recipes offer you a range of options when looking to prepare a meal that takes you back to Portugal. Whether for lunch or dinner or classic, modern, or traditional dishes, My Portugal has a wealth of options with pictures and the author’s personal stories to help you explore the history and richness of Portuguese cooking.
Along with recipes and instructions, this easy Portuguese cookbook also contains the chef’s notes and comments, guiding you toward making the best traditional dishes.
About the Author ✍️
George Mendes is a chef at one of the leading restaurants in New York City. He is known for his sumptuous cooking and worthy features in magazines and television. Genevieve Ko is a food writer that has worked with numerous top chefs to produce masterpieces.
5. Taste Portugal: 101 Easy Portuguese Recipes
Review 📖
Do you have little or no Portuguese cooking experience? Would you love to have homemade Portuguese cuisine at a family gathering? Then this book is for you. This cookbook contains various recipes to prepare healthy dishes ranging from everyday meals to dishes for special gatherings. It is also a great option for a Portuguese dumpling cookbook. The ingredients needed for these easy Portuguese cookbook recipes are simple and easy to find.
About the Author ✍️
Maris Dias and her daughter Lisa Dias are food bloggers that have ensured the continuity of the Portuguese food culture, one blog post and a recipe at a time. Marias was born in Portugal; she has been featured on various media platforms, bearing tales of her experience with Portuguese food and culture.
6. Easy Portuguese Cookbook
Review 📖
This book contains more than 75 recipes to help readers create mouth-watering Portuguese dishes. Due to its easy-to-follow steps, it can be used by both beginners and experts in Portuguese cooking. This cookbook also contains sections that help you effectively plan dishes according to function; there are samples of dishes for small or large family dinners, cocktail parties, or other celebratory ceremonies.
Because some Portuguese ingredients can be difficult to come by, the author includes alternative ingredients to help you achieve the same sumptuous meals.
About the Author ✍️
This cookbook is written by Stacy Silva-Boutwell. Due to Stacy’s passion for cooking, she has been featured in many publications and magazines. She also owns a blog, The Portuguese American Mom, where she discusses lifestyle and cooking. Her love for everything involving Portuguese and all countries of the Mediterranean Sea, including small dishes like Spanish tapas, led her to hold cooking and baking workshops for children and adults.
7. The New Portuguese Table
Review 📖
This cookbook puts together everything you need to make great Portuguese cuisine. The author blends Portuguese cooking from the previous generation with modern Portuguese dishes, making it a perfect fit if you need classic or contemporary recipes. Another great thing about the recipes in this cookbook is their usefulness for everyone—those who grew up eating Portuguese dishes or those looking to explore. Many users of this cookbook have testified about how great the recipes are, especially for Americans who would love to taste classic Portuguese cooking.
About the Author ✍️
David Leite is a well-recognized food writer and blogger; he has covered various topics related to food and health. As a citizen of Portugal, Davis intends to open the eyes of others to the beauty that lies in Portuguese cuisines and decides to share this in his articles.
8. The Food and Cooking of Portugal
Review 📖
Many realize that Portuguese dishes have been underrated for too long and have decided to try as many recipes as possible. A cookbook containing numerous recipes from various ingredients is the best way to start.
This cookbook includes easy steps to take, fresh ingredients needed, and clear pictures of the dishes to prepare. Those who have used this cookbook have confirmed that the recipes are authentic, and by just following all guidelines provided, you can try out as many Portuguese dishes as you wish.
About the Author ✍️
Miguel Castro e Silva is a chef and a writer. He’s devoted to showing off his cultural heritage with his cooking. Miguel shares beautiful recipes to help readers experience the Portuguese culture in their own kitchens.
9. Eat Smart in Portugal
Review 📖
This cookbook is suitable for anyone looking to adjust to the way of life in Portugal or who is interested in a long-term stay in the region. This cookbook is more than just a book of recipes; it also serves as a guide for readers to decide on seemingly complex cuisines when presented with a menu.
In this cookbook, there is one section for ingredients, one describes the history of Portuguese dishes, and another one addresses the translation of certain cooking terms from Portuguese to English. This cookbook is, therefore, the best guide for frequent travelers.
About the Author ✍️
Ronnie Hess wrote this great Portuguese cookbook. It is one of many “Eat Smart” books, as Ronnie enjoys telling the tales of various cuisines all over the world. Joan Peterson is a contributor to the “Eat Smart” series, as she has worked hand-in-hand with Ronnie to create success stories.
10. Portugal, The Cookbook
Review 📖
Described as the “Portuguese Bible,” this cookbook has useful recipes for Portuguese cuisines, from soups, vegetables, shellfish, poultry, beef, various pastries, and rice dishes. This cookbook is not just about recipes but also details the origin of each recipe. Rated 4.5 stars by users on Amazon, it is the best Portuguese cookbook that also tells a story about Portuguese culture.
This cookbook contains clear guidelines with clear pictures of the dishes, making it easy to understand. Another advantage this cookbook offers is its extra information, including whether or not the ingredients used are gluten-free and how long it takes to prepare the dishes.
About the Author ✍️
Leandro Carreia is a London-based chef that took three years to explore Central Europe, his origin, and the history of Portuguese dishes. He then put together his research and produced the best Portuguese cookbook in English for users willing to explore the length and breadth of Portuguese recipes.
Final Thoughts
Recently, Portugal has become one of the top choices for leisure travel. One of the things visitors enjoy most about Portugal is the cuisine. The dishes from this region are rich, full, and hard to forget.
Finding the best cookbooks that give authentic recipes and ingredients might seem difficult, especially if you have tried many books that have seemed to fail. These 10 books on Portuguese food origin, recipes, and ingredients can help set you on the right track.
These books have been carefully reviewed and selected based on customer reviews, thorough research, and accessibility. Whether or not you have tried your hands at Portuguese cooking in the past, these cookbooks have recipes that will give you a taste of the beautiful country. Get your pots and ingredients ready, and let these cookbooks launch you into a journey of beautiful Portuguese cuisines.
Some examples of Portuguese foods that consumers love are Caldo Verde and Acorda for soups, Polvo a Lagareiro for seafood, and Francesinha for sandwiches. If you want to explore Portuguese cuisine from the comfort of your kitchen, you can try out amazing Portuguese cookbook recipes by chefs with experience in Portuguese cooking. Most of these recipes are compiled and released as cookbooks to users; most times, these cookbooks also contain personal messages from these chefs that set you in the right mood for a local Portuguese dish.
