In Portugal, Christmas is lived around the table. Every meal becomes a moment of sharing, where flavours carry stories and bring generations together. Across the country, families celebrate traditions that have stood the test of time: recipes passed from hand to hand, ingredients that reflect the land and rituals that turn food into memory.

Explore the recipes

What Makes Christmas in Portugal Unique?
Christmas in Portugal is an invitation to slow down, gather and savour the moment. Families come together around dishes that have travelled through generations, comforting recipes made with olive oil, garlic, codfish, octopus, spices, oranges and the unmistakable aroma of cinnamon.

Each region celebrates in its own way, but the heart of the season is the same: good food shared with the people you love. This is a Christmas where tradition meets simplicity, and where every flavour brings you closer to the essence of Portugal.

TRADITIONAL PORTUGUESE CHRISTMAS RECIPES

1. The Portuguese Christmas Table
A Christmas celebration in Portugal often begins with a generous table of regional Portuguese cheeses, smoked sausages, olives, new olive oil being tasted, bread and seasonal dried fruits. Simple, rustic and full of character, this appetiser reflects the diversity of local producers and the warmth of Portuguese hospitality.

Perfect for: sharing, grazing boards, festive starters.

2. Bacalhau de Natal — Portuguese Christmas Codfish
This is one of Portugal’s most beloved Christmas Eve dishes. Known as Bacalhau com Todos, it brings together codfish, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, turnip greens and a generous drizzle of warm olive oil with garlic. Humble in preparation but rich in flavour, it represents simplicity, family tradition and the comfort of coming home.

Ingredients include: codfish, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, garlic, olive oil.

3. Polvo à Portuguesa — Christmas Octopus
In many regions, especially in the North, Christmas Eve is celebrated with tender octopus served with roasted potatoes, olive oil and fresh parsley. Slow-cooked and beautifully seasoned, this dish brings the sea to the festive table, highlighting Portugal’s deep connection with the ocean.

Ingredients include: octopus, onion, potatoes, olive oil, garlic, parsley.

4. Portuguese-Style Roast Turkey
Roast turkey is the centrepiece of many Portuguese Christmas Day tables. Marinated overnight with garlic, bay leaves, lemon and white wine, it becomes golden, juicy and aromatic. Served with crispy potatoes or giblet rice, it transforms Christmas lunch into a long, joyful moment shared between generations.

Ingredients include: whole turkey, garlic, wine, herbs, olive oil, lemon.

5. Borrego Assado — Traditional Portuguese Roast Lamb
In the interior regions, Christmas is often celebrated with slow-roasted lamb. Marinated with garlic, paprika, white wine and herbs, it roasts gently until tender and fragrant. It’s a dish that brings warmth to the table and fills the home with the unmistakable smell of Christmas.

Ingredients include: lamb, garlic, wine, paprika, potatoes, herbs.

6. Sonhos de Natal — Portuguese Christmas Doughnuts
Light, golden and rolled in sugar and cinnamon, sonhos (literally “dreams”) are one of Portugal’s most iconic Christmas desserts. Fried until fluffy and irresistibly soft, they carry the sweetness of tradition and the joyful spirit of the season.

Ingredients include: eggs, flour, butter, sugar, cinnamon.

THE INGREDIENTS THAT DEFINE PORTUGAL’S FESTIVE TASTE

Behind every recipe are the ingredients that make Portuguese cuisine unique:

Olive oil — golden, aromatic and essential in every Christmas dish.
Cured meats and cheeses — authentic flavours from local producers.
Seasonal vegetables — cabbage, carrots, potatoes, turnips and greens.
Cinnamon and citrus — the unmistakable scent of Portuguese Christmas desserts.
Port wine and regional wines — perfect pairings for festive meals.

These ingredients tell the story of Portugal’s land, sea and tradition.

Experience Christmas in Portugal
Beyond the flavours, Christmas in Portugal is filled with festive lights, traditional markets, nativity scenes, concerts and regional celebrations. Whether you visit the streets of Lisbon, the mountains of Porto and North, the plains of the Alentejo or the islands of Madeira and the Azores, Christmas here is always warm, welcoming and full of meaning.

Plan your trip:

• Best places to visit at Christmas
• Portuguese Christmas Traditions
• Christmas markets across Portugal
• Portuguese Christmas Presents

Savour your Christmas, Visit Portugal