The Algarve region of Portugal is blessed with the perfect climate for producing great tasting fruit and vegetables. The winter climate of the Algarve is similar to late Spring in the UK but with a lot more sunshine. The climate allows fresh fruit and vegetables to be grown in the cooler winter months under the large number of polythene greenhouses which characterise the interior of the region. It is not unusual to have an uninterrupted week of sun in winter with temperatures peaking at around 17 or 18 degrees centigrade, which is perfect for growing many tender herbs and vegetables.
Away from the holiday resorts which populate the Algarve coastline, the interior regions of the Algarve are predominantly used for growing fruit and vegetable produce, much of which can be grown in the mild Portuguese winter months. The Algarve climate also supports many types of produce which cannot be grown in Northern Europe such as citrus fruit, peaches, peppers, olives, avocados, garlic, beans and bananas.
Olive oil, garlic, onions, tomatoes, basil, peppers, coriander and parsley are the typical base ingredients for many of the traditional Algarve sauces. Portuguese recipes always use a lot of olive oil in sauce bases, which gives Portuguese dishes a characteristic flavour. Also there is a tendency to use more salt which is not the case in the UK, where people tend to be more aware of health issues.
There is also a plentiful supply of fresh fish from the Atlantic, so many Algarve dishes are based on seafood such as sardines, prawns and shellfish.
About this Author
For some examples of typical recipes of the Algarve please visit the website.
Matt May is an internet journalist and writer for the travel industry.
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