Soups

In some regions, soup is the main dinner for many families. Due to it being rich in ingredients and very filling, it’s like having a full meal.   

There are several kinds of soups. Here is a list of a few you will commonly find in traditional restaurants:

Caldo Verde: A cream of potatoes with sliced cabbage and a little bit of olive oil. It’s served with a slice of smoked pork sausage and maize or rye bread.  

Canja de Galinha: This soup is basically a chicken broth with rice, chicken giblets and some eggs.

Sopa da Pedra (Stone Soup): One of the richest Portuguese soups. The story tells that once upon a time there was a monk, who had a stone, and who went from home to home asking for some water to make a stone soup. People, that felt sorry for him, always gave him something more. In current days, the traditional soup is made of red beans, pork ear, spare-rib, beef, uncured bacon, smoked pork sausage, black-pudding, spring cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, pork sausage made of flour, mint, coriander and the indispensable stone.

Tomato soup: This is a very tasty soup made of tomato and onions and contains a poached egg.

Açorda: The traditional açorda was made to save stale bread. The slices of bread are immersed in hot water and a little bit of olive oil. Separately, in a mortar, people make a mixture with garlic, salt and coriander that helps bind the bread and the water, giving it an extraordinary taste and smell. It also contains a poached egg.