Madeira, an island located a few hundred kilometers from the mainland Portugal. The island shares many characteristics with the beautiful Portugal, yet it could also easily stand as its own country. The culture, the cuisine, everything about the island is remarkable. And in this blog, let’s focus on the Madeira island food since they have lots of meat dishes, fish dishes and fresh fruits.

I had the opportunity to visit the “flower island”. Over the course of two weeks, we explored, embraced, and truly admired the island. Because Madeira is absolutely stunning. I highly recommend everyone to visit the island. I certainly don’t rule out the possibility of returning to Madeira island someday. 

Who knows, maybe for a longer period, to truly uncover everything the island has to offer. Let’s not wait any longer and dive into everything Madeira has to offer, especially when it comes to madeira’s cuisine. Because there’s nothing more enjoyable than discovering traditional madeira food!

History

Before we delve into the food, I thought I’d first share some information about the island itself. This way, you’ll be fully prepared for everything Madeira has to offer. Curious about the exciting activities you can do on Madeira island? Then quickly check out our other blog, which tells you all about activities such as paragliding, snorkeling, and visiting stunning gardens.

As mentioned in the introduction, Madeira is an island belonging to Portugal. Located approximately 850 km away from the mainland of Portugal, it lies in the Atlantic Ocean. The island has a volcanic origin, but it wasn’t until the 15th century that Madeira was discovered by the Portuguese, eventually becoming an autonomous region. Madeira enjoys a mild climate, although it can vary significantly from one part of the island to another. The weather forecast is definitely something that makes the island unique, considering Madeira isn’t very large.

The island’s inhabitants all speak Portuguese, although I must say that many locals also speak English. As a visitor, you certainly don’t need to worry about a language barrier. However, it’s never a bad idea to learn a few Portuguese words for your trip, something that is appreciated anywhere in the world. Since Madeira is part of Portugal and thus the European Union, you can easily use the Euro for transactions. It’s certainly convenient for purchasing all those delicious dishes!

Food Guide

The Madeira cuisine is truly delightful, with several dishes that you can only find on this island. In this blog, we’ll delve into all the delicious treats you can discover during your journey to Madeira. You will not see me talking about madeira wine since this is on the top of every madeira food guide. Instead, I’ll show you my favorite madeira portugal food so you won’t miss out on any essential dishes.

1. Bolo do Caco

We’ll start right away with one of my personal favorites called Bolo do Caco. On our very first day in Madeira, we indulged in this widely known dish. Perfect for lunch, yet also a great side dish for dinner. You can find this specialty all over the island. But what exactly is Bolo de Caco? Bolo do Caco is delicious bread. “Bolo” stands for bread, and “Caco” for the basalt slab on which this typical bread is baked. What makes this bread so unique besides the baking slab? Well, it contains sweet potato, among other ingredients. When you order the bread, it’s served with tasty garlic butter. Absolutely delicious!

2. Poncha

Let’s move on to our second favorite, this time not a popular madeira food but a drink and in my opinion one of the madeira drinks you must try. A drink with a rich history and often sweet taste. Poncha is typical of Madeira and is offered in many flavors like passion fruit flavor and other tropical fruits. Its main ingredient is sugarcane, an ingredient that is abundant on the island. Additionally, it contains a few other ingredients, primarily tropical fruits. It’s worth mentioning that Poncha is originally an alcoholic beverage. However, there are now options to order this typical drink without alcohol so it’s just like drinking a soft drink.

The best place to order Poncha? In our opinion, it’s definitely in Cammara dos Lobos, the original fishing village where the drink originates and has its history. The one I tried was with pure passion fruit juice, and I can tell you it was very tasty and tasted just like a soft drink.

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3. Lapas Grelhadas

Lapas Grelhadas, also known as limpets, are shellfish fresh from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. They are a typical dish for Madeira or even the nearby Azores. The lapas are usually served grilled with delicious herbs and garlic butter, you’ll see them on the menu as grilled limpets, and during grilling as well as eating, they remain in their shells. You can most closely compare these shellfish to mussels, as they are also attached to rocks. One of the most popular dishes you can find in Madeira

This dish holds a special memory. One that my boyfriend and I will never forget. During our stay in Madeira, we also explored the beautiful island by car. We drove towards Porto Moniz, a place in Madeira known for its unique natural pools formed by volcanic eruptions. These natural pools are now perfect for swimming. During our visit to the pools, we struck up a conversation with a diver. 

The diver had just emerged from the sea wearing a full diving suit and accompanying gear, and he also had a net with contents. Filled with curiosity, we asked what he had retrieved, and it turned out to be lapas. Like all the inhabitants of Madeira, the man was immediately hospitable and asked if we wanted to try them. So there we were, next to the natural pools of Porto Moniz, tasting fresh lapas straight from the north atlantic Ocean. A truly unique experience!

4. Espatadas Madeirense

From shellfish, let’s move on to meat. Delicious meat, to be precise, a traditional food prepared in a unique way that truly only happens on the island of Madeira. It’s steak, but on a stick. Not just any stick, but a branch from a laurel tree. That’s what makes it so special. 

Laurel trees are no longer found in large numbers, and Madeira happens to have one of the last laurel forests, which is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Personally, I found the beef skewer absolutely delicious, partly due to the delightful herbs and special way of preparing. This typical madeira food is something I will definitely eat again when revisiting madeira.

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5. Bolo de Mel

Bolo de Mel is a delicious cake specifically found on Madeira. It’s so popular that you can find this treat everywhere, it’s like madeira street food. Bolo de Mel is a honey cake made with honey and spices such as cinnamon and cloves. The honey cake is not only remarkable for its tasty flavor but also because it dates back to the 15th century. With this honey cake, you truly taste a piece of history.

6. Espada Com Banana (black scabbard fish with banana)

A unique yet delicious dish, that’s how I would describe Espada com banana. But what is it exactly? Espada com banana is a traditional dish featuring black scabbardfish (espada) accompanied by fried bananas and mayonnaise. Yes, you heard it right, fish with bananas. It’s certainly not a combination you often come across. But I can assure you that it’s truly tasty and, furthermore, it’s a genuine Madeira classic. The scabbardfish is locally caught, so don’t hesitate to try the classic Espada com banana. You won’t want to miss it.

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7. Milho frito

From main courses featuring swordfish, let’s move on to the tasty side dishes. One of the most popular madeira foods: Milho Frito. When dining out in Madeira, you’re bound to be served this side dish at least once with your meal. Milho Frito is fried cornmeal, slowly cooked together with other ingredients and then cooled in the form of cubes. After preparation, it’s fried. Once the Milho Frito is fried, it’s ready to be served deliciously alongside dishes such as Espetadas Madeirense.

8. Picado à Madeirense (Beef Cubes)

Picados at Madeirense are grilled beef cubes. The majority of times the dish is consumed as shared platters — think of that as beef tapas that can be steamed with the toothpicks. Its taste is quite simple. In general, beef is cooked as a tenderlone in small pieces and cooked with onions, garlic and bay leaf. Depending on restaurant, they could make a very different interpretation with added spices, but this can easily be served with fries on a plate.

9. Cozido (meat stew)

Cozida is one of Portugal’s meaty dishes popular. This stew usually contains sausage meat, meat, chicken, pork meat, chouriços and morcela. The meat consists mainly of veggies such as turnips, carrots, cabbage, zucchinis etc. Cozido à Portugiese is a soup prepared by slowly soaking ingredients in boiling water. In the earliest days, steam originated in hot sources particularly in the Azores. Nowadays, it is common practice to use steam as a cozido.

10. Sopa de trigo (wheat soup)

Translated into bread soup, these are hearty Madeira dishes that have been cherished for centuries by many. A flavoursome soup topped with buckwheat, meat and potatoes includes steamed pork and sausage potatoes. This is the most common winter dish of islanders but can be found on a menu at restaurants as a starter.

11. Tomato & onion soup with poached eggs

Other simple and delicious Madeira dishes include tomato soup. But you can’t think about the idea of cheap canned soups — it’s a fresh, flavorful and delicious meal combining onions with tomatoes, sprigs of parsley and poached eggs. Abolo de caco for dipping makes this lunch ideal.

12. Pudim De Maracujá (Passion Fruit Pudding)

Unlike some Portuguese sweets the Pudim maracujá does not have eggs. Unlike desserts, the predominant taste comes from passion fruit, the puddings are enhanced by cream and concentrated milk. Passionfruit has been cultivated since ancient times in Madeira and is not native on this island. Sailors imported the tropical fruits from Madeira and Portugal. Which restaurant are you going to?

13. Madeira Brandy

We’re not ending our list with a dish but with another local drink. This time, not sweet Poncha, but strong Madeira Rum, or Madeira Brandy. The rum is a true gem of the island. But what makes Madeira rum so different from others? Primarily, it’s because the rum is made from sugarcane. Additionally, the origins of rum on the island date back to the time of its discovery. Personally, I’m not much of a rum enthusiast, but it was certainly fun to try a small glass in a restaurant. Are you a rum lover or just enthusiastic? Consider visiting the rum museum for an immersive experience.

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What a delightful array of madeira cuisine. While it aligns with Portuguese cuisine in many ways, the island also boasts its own authentic and typical food. The Madeiran cuisine has something for everyone, from a simple beef steak to a delicious meat stew. Not a fan of beef? No problem, try some amazing grilled chicken or fresh fish in the form of a tuna steak.

I hope that during your trip to Madeira, you’ll have the opportunity to try as many dishes from this list as possible, not only because they’re delicious but also because the madeira food prices are really low. 

This makes eating out in one of Madeira’s fine dining restaurants even more enjoyable. I know for sure that I’ll be going back for another cold glass of poncha and a tasty piece of Bolo do Caco.