dish
Cataplana
Both a hinged copper cooking vessel and the seafood dishes prepared in it, iconic to the Algarve.
Cataplana refers to both the distinctive hinged, clam-shaped copper cooking vessel and the dishes prepared inside it. The sealed pot traps steam, creating a pressurised cooking environment that infuses ingredients with concentrated flavour. The vessel has Moorish origins and is unique to the Algarve region of southern Portugal.
The most famous preparation is cataplana de marisco, combining clams, shrimp, chouriço, onion, tomato, and white wine. When the cataplana is opened at the table, it releases an aromatic cloud of steam. Cataplana de porco com amêijoas (pork with clams) is another classic that showcases Portugal's talent for combining land and sea flavours.
