Table of Contents

Setúbal cuisine

Choco Frito à Setubalense

Iconic fried cuttlefish, marinated in garlic and lemon, then coated in flour and fried until golden; a must-try street and tavern food. 1)

Caldeirada Setubalense

Fishermen’s fish stew with layers of different fish (often cuttlefish, monkfish, and sardines), potatoes, and peppers, cooked in olive oil and wine. 2)

Ensopado de Enguias do Sado

Eel stew from the Sado estuary, simmered in a tomato and garlic broth with bread to soak up the sauce. 3)

Amêijoas à Setubalense

Clams from the estuary sautéed in garlic, olive oil, coriander, and white wine, similar to Algarve-style clams but with local flair. 4)

Sopa de Peixe à Pescador

Hearty fisherman’s fish soup with tomato base, noodles, and a mix of small fish and shellfish. 5)

Arroz de Choco com Tinta

Cuttlefish rice cooked in its own ink, rich, dark, and deeply flavored. 6)

Sardinhas Assadas no Pão

Grilled sardines served directly over slices of rustic bread, soaking in their smoky oils. 7)

Carapaus Alimados

Small horse mackerels marinated in garlic, vinegar, and olive oil; usually eaten cold, a dish of fishermen’s tradition. 8)

Língua de Vaca Estufada

Stewed ox tongue in a rich tomato-wine sauce, a rustic inland dish showing Setúbal’s countryside heritage. 9)

Queijo de Azeitão

Creamy raw sheep’s milk cheese from Arrábida, eaten with a spoon; one of Portugal’s great artisanal cheeses. 10)

Fogaça de Palmela

Sweet bread with sugar and cinnamon, linked to religious traditions, especially in Palmela (near Setúbal). 11)

Torta de Azeitão

A rolled sponge cake filled with egg yolk cream (doce de ovos), famous in Azeitão. 12)

Farinha Torrada de Sesimbra

A dense sweet “flour cake” with cinnamon, chocolate, and lemon, originally a fisherman’s energy food, now a beloved treat. 13)

Arroz de Marisco à Setúbal

Shellfish rice with shrimp, clams, and mussels from the estuary, flavored with coriander and wine. 14)

Moscatel de Setúbal

Not a dish, but an essential pairing: the region’s famous fortified sweet wine, often enjoyed with cheese or desserts. 15)