Portugal is one of the best places for tourism and relaxation with friends and family. The air is thick with the scent of the sea, salt, garlic, olive oil, and simmering tomatoes blending in a melody that only a Portuguese kitchen can create. The Portuguese love seafood; it’s more than food, it’s a way of life. And no dish captures it better than Arroz de Marisco, a rich, heart-warming seafood rice that tells a beautiful story.
A Taste of Homecoming
Arroz de Marisco is so unique that you crave it even when you’re far from home. It carries comfort, memory, and warmth in every bite. For me, this dish, humble yet deeply satisfying,
is made with prawns, mussels, and clams, all simmered in a golden seafood stock that tastes like the ocean itself.
Each kitchen, no matter how small, felt like a place where Arroz de Marisco could come to life. I remember thinking, if I can’t wait to go home to cook this dish, then maybe home is wherever the pot simmers.
Our hosts in Portugal were warm and welcoming. One even asked how we slept and if dinner had been good. The Portuguese truly have a gift for hospitality, friendly, genuine, and full of heart.
The Beauty of Simplicity
Arroz de Marisco proves that the best food doesn’t need to be complicated. It begins with simple ingredients: onions, garlic, chillies, tomatoes, coriander, and lemon zest, all sautéed slowly in olive oil until fragrant. Then comes the rice, preferably Carolina or arborio, soaking up the flavours like a sponge and transforming the pot into a bubbling cauldron of coastal goodness.
Finally, the stars of the show, prawns, clams, and mussels, join the mix, cooking gently until their shells open and their juices enrich the broth. A drizzle of chilli oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a handful of fresh coriander complete the dish, creating a perfect balance of heat, brightness, and brine.
In the Kitchen: A Love Story in Two Steps
Step 1: Sauté onions, garlic, chillies, coriander, and lemon zest until golden and aromatic. Add tomatoes, green capsicum, and rice. Stir and cook briefly before pouring in the rich seafood stock. Simmer gently until the rice is tender and creamy.
Step 2: Add the seafood, prawns, clams, and mussels and cook until the shells open. Finish with a splash of chilli oil, fresh coriander, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
What emerges is a vibrant, hearty dish that feels like sunshine and sea breeze in a bowl of comfort food elevated by centuries of Portuguese tradition.
A Dish to Share
What I love most about Arroz de Marisco is its communal nature. It’s meant to be shared scooped straight from the pot at the centre of the table, surrounded by laughter, conversation, and the clinking of glasses filled with vinho verde.
It’s not fussy, not fancy, just honest, generous food that reminds you why we gather around the table in the first place.
The Final Spoonful
Food tells stories, and this one speaks of homecomings, travels, and the warmth of strangers who become friends. Whether you make it in a seaside kitchen in Lisbon or in your apartment miles away from the coast, Arroz de Marisco brings Portugal to your plate, rich, comforting, and irresistibly soulful.
So next time you crave something that feeds both heart and hunger, skip the takeout and simmer a pot of this Portuguese treasure. You might just find yourself tasting the spirit of the Atlantic one bite at a time.
