Outside academia, together with my family, we have fun learning Portuguese domestic cookery. Unlike other gastronomic traditions, Portuguese cuisine is rather practical and not based on many ingredients. What counts is the aromas and textures, the flavours, the freshness of the produces, and the way they combine. We are (slowly) translating some popular recipes that require a limited list of ingredients that are easy to find in any supermarket, and limited cooking time. The ambition (in the long-term) is to develop a book built on tacit knowledge handed over from our parents and grandparents; a book rooted in the Portuguese version of the Mediterranean diet, a world-heritage, which will bring together a wide range of traditional recipes such as ‘costelas em vinha d’alhos’ (marinated pork chops), ‘caldo verde’ (kale and potato soup), and ‘Favas a Portuguesa’ (Fava beans). Here is a preview

‘CALDO VERDE’ (KALE AND POTATO SOUP) Serves 5-7 people Olive Oil, four table spoons Salt, one tea spoon Kale, 200 gr (~ one bag) Water, 2 litres Chopped Potatoes, four medium-size Garlic, 2 cloves (smashed) Onion, two medium-size (chopped) Chorizo (one) Boil the water, and add the potatoes, garlic, onions, and the chorizo. Cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally for about 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Remove the chorizo, and blende to a puree. Add the salt, olive oil, kale. Let it boil and simmer until the kale is tender. Before serving, peel off the chorizo, slice it, and add two/three slices to each portion.

‘FAVAS A PORTUGUESA’ (FAVA BEANS ) Serves 6-8 people chorizo 400-gr (aprox. 2 units) bacon, 400-gr broad/fava beans,700 gr (you can replace with peas) onions, 2 garlic, 5 cloves Salt and pepper Olive oil, 6 table spoons or sufficient to cover the bottom of the pot Slice the chorizo in medium thick slices and roughly chop the garlics and the onions. Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized pot. Add the garlic and the onions together with the bacon and the chorizo and sauté for about 5 minutes by stirring the ingredients until the ingredients begin to soften. Add the fava beans or peas, and pour hot water in order to cover all the ingredients. Add salt and pepper to your likening, and let it boil in medium heat until the greens are soft enough to eat. You can serve with boiled rice or spaghetti.