Around the world in 80 dishes

Portuguese cuisine is the food of the explorers. Portuguese travellers played a key role in food globalisation, for example, they were the first Europeans to explore China, Japan and Ethiopia, bringing back new foods like rice and tea from Asia and coffee from Africa. From the 15th century Prince Henry the Navigator requested for any exotic foods to be brought back from the voyages. Hence, the cuisine has been mixed with richness of ingredients from all over the world. Like in the Spanish cuisine, it was the Romans who introduced the Mediterranean triad (wheat, olive oil and wine) to Portugal. The Moors (Arabic influences) brought rice and citrus fruits, and planted almond trees throughout the Algarve. Portuguese food varies from region to region, but of course the star of their menu is the seafood. Bacalhau, traditional salted cod, has been popular since the 16th century, when Portuguese ships went to the Americas. Sailo...