Are you a sugarholic? Do you enjoy desserts a lot? If the answer is yes, Portugal is a fantastic place for you to visit. Portuguese sweets are renowned for their mouthwatering tastes, traditional ingredient utilisation, and indulgent sweetness that pays homage to the nation's culinary past.
Food is highly valued in this culture, and sweets are no exception. There are padarias (bakeries) and pastelarias (pastry stores) everywhere, and they provide the most delicious sweets you can imagine. Which Portuguese sweets are the most well-known? Let's explore a variety of delectable Portuguese delicacies to find out.
Pastel De Nata
The world is familiar with pastel de nata, a typical Portuguese egg custard tart. It's said that the filling shouldn't be very sweet or contain any vanilla or lemon flavours for the best finish. Rather, top the tarts with some cinnamon and serve with a cup of coffee, if possible.
This dessert was first prepared by Catholic nuns and monks at Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon, prior to the 18th century. Leftover egg yolks from starching garments and clarifying wines were used to make the tart. Later, church leaders struck a commercial sale agreement with a local bakery for pastel de nata, and the product became very popular.
Bolas De Berlim
Portuguese doughnuts known as "bolas de Berlim" are split in half and filled with a smooth, sweet custard made of eggs. These doughnuts, which have a fluffy outside and a rich, creamy inside, are usually rolled in powdered sugar before the custard is added.
These delicious balls are sold by street sellers on several beaches around the Portuguese coast, and residents enjoy eating them while relaxing in the sun. Bolas de Berlim can be requested with or without cream filling, even though they are usually filled with custard.
Pão De Ló De Ovar
Possibly the most well-known Portuguese dessert, Pão de Ló de Ovar was created in 18th-century convents by nuns. The first documented mention of this sponge cake was in a 1781 book titled Irmandade dos Passos, where it is stated that priests who accepted the wooden framework to carry the statues in the Holy Week procession were given pão de Ló de Ovar as a dessert. Traditionally baked with eggs, sugar, and flour, this creamy sponge cake is a staple of most Portuguese food fairs today. Not only is the cake made in the town of Ovar, but it is well-liked across the nation.
Serradura
Serradura is a Portuguese and Macanese delicacy made of finely crushed tea biscuits sandwiched between a velvety mixture of whipped cream and condensed milk. Although the cream was traditionally flavoured with vanilla, more recent versions come in a variety of flavour combinations.
Though the name, which means "sawdust pudding" in Portuguese, suggests that it originated in Portugal, Macau has seen a huge surge in popularity for this dessert. It is available for purchase in many bakeries, and Macau's Portuguese-style restaurants frequently feature it on their menus. It is also popular in India's Goa, which was once a Portuguese colony. However, this dessert now features on Goan restaurants' menus as well.
Rabanada
The Portuguese and Brazilian equivalent of French toast is called rabanada. It is prepared by slicing thick slices of round or oval stale bread, dipping them in milk (or milk, sugar, and vanilla), beating the eggs, frying them in oil, and then sprinkling them with cinnamon sugar.
Rabanada is therefore crunchier and sweeter than American French toast. Since Juan del Encina first mentioned rabanada in the 15th century, it has been associated with healing after childbirth. For this reason, rabanada is also commonly referred to as fatia parida, or slices for the new mother.
Queijinhos De Amêndoa
These sugar-coated Portuguese delights have a creamy egg-based filling inside an almond shell. Egg whites and crushed almonds are combined to make the shell, while egg yolks and sugar are combined to make the classic Portuguese doce de ovos, a rich and silky custard.
These delicious treats are referred to as "small almond cheeses" because of their cylindrical shapes and white shells, which give them a visual resemblance to cheese wheels. The Algarve area is the primary location for enjoying queijinhos de amêndoa.
Bolo De Mel
Bolo de mel, a cake baked with honey, almonds, walnuts, cinnamon, and other spices, is thought to be Madeira's oldest dessert. This intensely spicy cake was first created in the 15th century when sugar plantations grew over the island. Because it was first prepared with molasses, it could be kept fresh for up to five years. Traditionally made for Christmas, bolo de mel is now available year-round due to its widespread popularity among the community. It is typical in Madeira to take out the pieces by hand rather than cut the cake.