Slow Travel In Lisbon? Try This Lisbon Recipe for Dinner

If you’re interested in slow travel and you’ve selected from all the apartments in Lisbon on offer in the city centre, the next step is to learn a bit of Lisbon lifestyle. Have a go at this lovely recipe for one of Lisbon’s traditional dishes, which you can prepare in your apartment. Best served on a balcony, with views of the River Tagus; here’s how to make the Sailors Bacalhau Gratin (Cod bake).

From your local Lisbon fish market and convenience stores, you will need:

300g of Bacalhau (desalted)
2 Egg yokes
Half an onion, chopped
4 Potatoes, cubed and sautéed
2 Cups of full or light cream
Half a glass of white wine
3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
50g Toasted breadcrumbs
Cured sheep cheese or hard cheese
6 Tbsp. butter
Salt, pepper and chopped parsley, to season
1 Cup of milk and water

Sailors Bacalhau Gratin; Best served on your Lisbon apartment’s balcony.

• Place the desalted cod portions in a saucepan with the milk and water, bring to the boil and leave to simmer for about 15 minutes. This will soften the fish and leave it fluffy.

• Preheat oven to 175ºC, drain cod and allow to cool. Once cool, remove the skin and bones and place the cod in a food processor, shredding it lightly.

• Fry cubed potatoes until golden. Drain on absorbent paper and allow them to cool.

• In a small pan, sautée chopped onion in 2Tbsp. of butter, then transfer into a bowl. Add shredded cod and sautéed potato.

• In a smaller bowl, cream together the egg yokes, cream, mustard, salt, pepper. Then add the wine, blend together and fold into the larger bowl.

• Spoon the mixture into individual quiche dishes. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, grate cheese on top and add the last dollops of butter. Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Garnish with parsley.

Serve with a green salad and a bottle of white wine. And there you have it, Sailors Bacalhau Gratin.

Fish and Flavours in Lisbon

Take advantage of budget airline offers and cheap Lisbon holiday apartments this April to experience a gastronomic event like no other. The 2009 Edition of Peixe em Lisboa (Fish in Lisbon) takes place in the Pavilhão de Portugal in the Parque das Nações from the 18th to the 26th of April. This offers the perfect opportunity to sample the extraordinary seafood and other produce from this region of Portugal.

The event programme is extensive and offers workshops, seminars, wine tasting, demonstrations, live music, not to mention some of the best seafood on offer in Europe. This event is the best way to get a real taste of all of the regions of Portugal and the typical dishes of each one.

There is a strong emphasis on traditional ingredients being given a modern makeover and the 2009 edition boasts International chefs alongside some of Portugal’s most highly regarded. There will also be the chance to hone your taste buds to the level of a genuine connoisseur, with wine pairing workshops from a team of certified experts.


The 9 day event takes place throughout Lisbon with many restaurants participating, but the principal venue is the Pavilhão de Portugal in the Parque das Nações, which was the site for the Expo 98 World Exhibition. Situated in the northeastern part of the city near to the Tagus estuary, this is an area rich in modern architecture and hosts one of the biggest aquariums in Europe.

There is also the chance to try to recreate some of the inspiring dishes on offer by visiting the gourmet market that will run throughout the whole event. What better way to enjoy your stay in Lisbon than by renting an apartment in Lisbon and trying your hand at preparing some authentic Portuguese cuisine with your family and friends.

More information on Lisbon in this other blog.