dish
Xerém de Conquilhas
By Pedro OliveiraAlgarve
An emblematic Algarve dish combining coarse corn grits with fresh clams from the Ria Formosa.
Xerém de conquilhas is one of the Algarve's most identitary dishes, uniting the cereal tradition of the interior with coastal shellfish. The corn grits, coarser than Alentejo xarém flour, give it a distinctive granular texture.
Ria Formosa clams release a briny broth that naturally seasons the cereal. Fresh coriander, garlic, and olive oil complete a deceptively simple dish. Once fishermen's food, it is now served in the Algarve's finest restaurants.
