Exploring Madeiran Gastronomy
Holidaymakers have long flocked to Madeira for the island’s laidback lifestyle, plentiful resorts, and grand craggy cliffs. However, the most unsung attraction is the unique gastronomy entwined in Madeiran culture. It appears there’s nothing like a stiff sea breeze and an open mind to spark culinary creativity.
Liquid Creations
Poncha is Madeira’s signature cocktail, traditionally enjoyed by Portuguese fishers to keep ailments at bay. The original recipe combines lemon, honey, and the potent sugar cane rum known as aguardente de cana. Nowadays, it’s common to find poncha mixed with exciting flavors like passionfruit and tangerine. Feel free to explore these variations, but maybe not all at once. Consuming too many may have you speaking in “Ponchaguese.”
The Madeiran cocktail menu also includes the nikita, a delightful blend of ice-cream, beer, and white wine, often topped with a chunk of pineapple. While it may sound peculiar, this concoction brings all the good stuff together. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Moreover, Madeirans are proud custodians of fortified wine that has graced many significant glasses throughout history. The Americans developed a taste for Madeira wine after it was collected and distributed during trade-route stopovers. Remarkably, this wine was used to toast America’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, along with the inauguration of George Washington as the USA’s first president in 1789.
Madeira wine is distinct, renowned not just for its sometimes nutty or burnt butter flavor but also for its remarkable resilience. Grapes thrive on the island’s steep slopes, subjected to heating and oxidation (generally considered wine torture) before being bottled as examples of tough love. Even after opening, this trooper can last for years.
Surf and Turf
Being surrounded by water, it’s no surprise Madeira boasts an array of seafood dishes. Among the island’s aquatic offerings are limpets or lapas, which are open shellfish resembling barnacles. Plates of lapas are typically served with garlic and a squeeze of lemon, creating a simple yet flavorful starter.
For more garlicky goodness, indulge in local bolo do caco – a round of bread dressed with garlic butter. It’s perfect for snacking or mopping up typical soups like tomate e cebola (tomato and onion) and açorda (bread and shellfish stew). Another beloved accompaniment is milho frito (fried cornmeal), often served as crispy herb-laced cubes.
When it comes to main courses, meat lovers can relish espetadas (beef cubes speared with a bay leaf twig) and wine-marinated pork carne de vinho e alhos, while fish enthusiasts may opt for espada, or scabbardfish.
Characterized by its long black body and unique appearance, the espada might be considered one of the ugliest fish, but it’s beloved for its taste. The soft white flesh is a delicacy, and Madeirans have an intriguing habit of pairing it with bananas, which thrive abundantly across the island’s mountainous terrain.
Sweet Somethings
In addition to standard bananas, which are the island’s second-largest export, Madeira features unique varieties like banana passionfruit and pineapple banana. The banana passionfruit has an elongated shape, while the pineapple banana boasts a distinctive hexagonal-patterned skin that reveals sweet, pale flesh underneath. Check out these fruits at the bustling Mercado dos Lavradores, where you’ll discover a vibrant array of other fruits and vegetables thriving in Madeira’s subtropical climate.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, you can head straight for the cake cabinet. While Madeira cake is commonly associated with the island, its light sponge actually has British roots. Instead, Madeira’s baked claim to fame is bolo de mel (honey cake). This flat and dry confection has a treacle flavor and is usually sprinkled with nuts. The traditional approach encourages tearing off pieces and eating by hand. Notably, bolo de mel is known to last up to a year, born tough just like the island’s wine. The only tough decision left for you is to enjoy all the delightful flavors Madeira has to offer. Bom apetite.
