The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Azorean Foods. If you manage to be in an Azorean restaurant or you are visiting Azores Islands, I recommend the following:
1. Soup do Sagra
Soup is an important part of island life. Many traditional soups can be found all over the island and it seems that each island has its own version of the traditional soup. One of our favourite soups is Sopa do Sagra, which means mother-in-law soup.
2. Marmalade
It is a sweet jam made by boiling fruit (whole or cut), sugar (it must be in the same proportion as the weight of the fruit) and water. After cooking, the mixture is turned into a puree with pieces of fruit. Marmalade can also be made from vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes or pumpkins. Quinces are the most commonly eaten and are often added to cheese.
3. Alcatra
In addition to some typical dishes to eat in the Azores, in general, each of the islands that make up this archipelago also has its own gastronomy. It is usually made with beef and cooked in a clay pot with, among other ingredients, bay leaf, pepper, onion, garlic and wine.
4. Azorean Hot Dogs
These local pork products are some of the best hot dogs you will ever taste. The famous Azorean sausage is made and sold at sausage stalls in villages and towns all over the island. They are grilled and taste fresh and rich. Bowl with nuts on the cob, corn, grilled onions and jalapeños. No wonder the stalls are packed with locals and late-night tourists from the centre, all eager to try these famous hot dogs.
5. Cheese Pasta Mole
Pasta mole cheese is a brand that focuses on a wide range of cheeses, from soft to cured, with the mild buttery type. Most of the Portuguese cheese (Queijo) comes from the Azores. This delicious cheese can be found on the island of São Miguel. It has a spicy and salty taste and is the best accompaniment to many other dishes.
6. Cozido
Cozido is cooked in a style very similar to any other stew in the world, but it has certain particularities regarding its ingredients. Ingredients include beans, potatoes, carrots, turnips, cabbage and rice. Meat products include chicken, smoked pork ribs (entrecosto de porco), pig’s ear, etc. Sausages include the traditional farinheira, chouriço, blood sausage, chouriço de sangue, etc. All of them have a deep smoky flavour, taste and aroma that distinguishes them from other cooked meats in the Iberian Peninsula.
7. Malasadas
Malasadas are a dessert from the Azores very similar to fritters. They are made of semi-sweet dough and have no filling. The mixture is prepared with wheat flour, baker’s yeast, eggs and sugar, and then fried in very hot oil. They are usually decorated with sugar and cinnamon or cane molasses. Although this dessert is available at any time of the year, it is most popular at Carnival time and its consumption has spread to other regions of the world where the Portuguese have taken up residence.
8. Bolos Lêvedos
Bolo lêvedo is a speciality of the Azores that delights the palate of those who visit this corner of Macaronesia. Typical Furnas, delicious with butter and fresh cheese or pineapple sauce.
9. Lapas
If you visit any of the villages along the coast of São Miguel, you will find seafood such as limpets, octopus or cracas in their restaurants. In the case of limpets, they are cooked by roasting the shell over the fire and, once prepared, they are seasoned with lemon and butter. Their texture tends to be somewhat chewy or chewy, and the most important thing is not to let them cool, as they tend to harden and become almost impossible to eat.
10. Cracas
They are close relatives of the Azorean fire skins, which are shells that cling to coastal rocks. They are considered a real delicacy because of their special salty taste and because they require professional fishermen to catch them. They are boiled in seawater and eaten after cooling to room temperature. They are considered an appetiser and are part of the Portuguese petisco repertoire.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional European Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.