Every summer, the smell of Carne Espeto grilling over open coals is the first sign that the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament has arrived in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This recipe — marinated beef threaded onto skewers and grilled to perfection — is one of my favorites to share because it connects us to our Azorean […]
Arroz de Tamboril com Gambas is one of those dishes I will never forget. I was served this recipe at Sagres Restaurant while filming Season Two of Maria’s Portuguese Table, and I knew immediately I had to share it. A rich, deeply flavored rice with monkfish and shrimp, slow-cooked with tomatoes, white wine, and aromatics
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Portuguese Garlic Shrimp is one of the simplest, most satisfying dishes you can make — and one of the most memorable I have ever tasted. I was served this at Sagres Restaurant while filming Season Two of Maria’s Portuguese Table, and it stopped me mid-conversation. Shrimp cooked quickly in good olive oil with generous amounts
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Molhos de Santa Maria is one of those dishes that tells the whole story of the Azores in a single bite. My family’s version uses foil packets and a pressure cooker — a practical adaptation of a traditional preparation that originally called for a stomach lining. The technique is different, but the soul of the
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My Portuguese Canja is one of those recipes that wraps you in a warm hug the moment you smell it simmering on the stove. Growing up, my Mom made this creamy chicken and rice soup for Sunday dinners and any time someone in the family wasn’t feeling well — it was her cure for everything.
Bolos Levedos Portuguese Muffins are one of those recipes that will surprise you the first time you make them. They look like English muffins, but one bite tells you they are something entirely different — slightly sweet, soft, and rich with eggs and butter. I find them irresistible straight off the skillet, but they are
My mother made this Vanilla Cream Cake recipe at least once a month, always with Sunday visitors in mind — what we called visitas. The smell of it baking was the smell of weekends growing up. I had the joy of making this one with my dear friend Jeremiah Duarte Bills, and it came out
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Carrilhos are one of those recipes that take me right back to my childhood kitchen. This Carrilhos recipe has been passed down through generations in my family, and I love thinking of all the grandmothers and aunts who sat down with a hot cup of tea after making these same cookies — following the same
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Growing up in our home, the cookie jar was never empty — and it was never filled with Oreos or chocolate chip cookies! My mom always had a batch of Biscoitos ready to go, and for as long as I can remember, they were the perfect partner to a warm cup of tea. This Portuguese
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This Azorean Roasted Octopus recipe comes from my cousin, and it is truly one of my all-time favorites. Growing up, octopus was never something exotic to us — it was just part of how we ate, part of being Azorean. My cousin has been making this for years, and the first time I watched her
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