Funny Dishes Names

Baba de Camelo = Camel's Drool

Baba de Camelo is one of Portugal's most beloved desserts. It is made with just a few simple ingredients - sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and sometimes crushed almonds or cookies for garnish. The texture is smooth, creamy, and mousse-like. Despite its rather unappetizing name, it is rich, light, and absolutely delicious.

Papo de Anjo = Angel's Double Chin

Papo de Anjo is a traditional Portuguese convent dessert made almost entirely from egg yolks. The yolks are baked into small sponge-like cakes and then soaked in a fragrant sugar syrup, sometimes flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, or citrus peel. The result is an incredibly light yet very rich dessert that reflects Portugal's long tradition of egg-based convent sweets.

Barriga da Freia =  Nun's belly

Barriga de Freia is another classic convent dessert that showcases Portugal's love of egg-based sweets. It is typically made with egg yolks, sugar, breadcrumbs, and almonds, creating a soft, creamy pudding with a rich, velvety texture. Like many traditional Portuguese desserts, it originated in convent kitchens, where egg whites were often used for starching clothes, leaving the yolks to inspire counties sweet creations.

Prego = Nail

A Pergo is one of Portugal's favorite sandwiches. It consist of a thin steak, usually seasoned with garlic and grilled, served inside a crusty, ham, a fried egg, or mustard. It is a simple but satisfying meal that you'll find everywhere, from neighborhood cafés to beach bars.

Pica-Pau - Woodpecker

Pica-Pau is a popular Portuguese appetizer made with bite-sized pieces of beef sauteed with garlic, olive poi, white wine, and a savory pickled vegetables and fresh bread for dipping. The name is believed to come from the way diners "peck" at the small pieces of meat with a fork, much like a woodpecker peck at a tree.

Punhetas de Bacalhao = "Hand Jobs of Cod"

Perhaps the most shocking Portuguese dish name for English speakers, Punheta de Bacalhau is actually a classic salt cod salad. Raw salted cod is soaked, then shredded by hand and mixed with onions, garlic, parsley, olive oil, and vinegar. The unusual name refers to the traditional hand-shredding technique, long before the modern slang meaning became widespread. Today, it remains one of Portugal’s most talked-about food names.

Roupa Velha - Old Clothes

Roupa Velha is a comforting dish made from leftovers, most commonly boiled salt cod, potatoes, and cabbage sautéed with garlic and generous amounts of olive oil. It is traditionally prepared after Christmas, when families transform the previous day’s meal into something equally delicious. The name refers to the mixture of leftover ingredients, much like a pile of old clothes, but the flavor is anything but worn out.