The Azorean gastronomy is especially shaped by its abundant and fresh fish and seafood dishes. With a territory inevitably marked by the sea, this is the most significant originality of its cuisine. Stews, soups, grilled, or in original recipes, the fish and seafood from the Azores stand out for their taste diversity.
The grilled tuna and the octopus, mainly stewed in Isabella grape wine, stand out; however, one cannot miss the grilled limpets in butter, garlic, and spicy red pepper sauce with lemon, the famous cracas (local barnacles), the São Jorge clams, or the Mediterranean slipper lobster, a tender and tasty lobster. However, Azorean gastronomy does not only consist of fish and seafood.
The famous Furnas stew, the most popular dish of the largest island of the Azores, stands out among the meats. Pots with various types of meat and smoked sausages, as well as vegetables, are placed underground for six hours in the area of the Furnas fumaroles and cooked by the heat of the old volcano.
Other highlights are the Rump Steak, Terceira Island style, a meat stew prepared in an artisanal way, as well as the recipes for yams with linguiça (cured sausage), or the black pudding, which is usually cooked with pineapple.
There is no avoiding the Portuguese muffins (bolo lêvedo), originally from Furnas, which is a perfect blend of bread and cake, suitable to be eaten with any meal.
Regarding desserts, the malassadas (fried dough balls), typical of Carnival, get special attention, but also the queijadas (small cheesecakes), whether those from Graciosa, Vila Franca do Campo, or those dedicated to Queen Dona Amélia.
And if we are talking about regional products, we cannot fail to mention the cheeses of the Azores, a production encouraged by the presence of the Flemish in the archipelago, and which has its greatest exponent with the São Jorge cheese, with a spicy and intense flavour, which may be paired with a good glass of wine from Pico island. Pineapple, passion fruit, or melon can complete the Azorean gastronomic experience.