Considered to be Madeira's oldest dessert, bolo de mel is a cake made with honey, almonds, walnuts, cinnamon, and other spices. This richly spiced cake is thought to have been invented in the 15th century, during the expansion of sugar plantations on the island, and it was originally made with molasses, which meant it could be stored for up to 5 years.
Bolo de mel was traditionally prepared for Christmas, but nowadays it can be found all year round because it is very popular with the locals. In Madeira, it is customary not to cut the cake, but rather to tear off the pieces by hand.
MOST ICONIC Bolo de mel
Broas de mel is a traditional cookie hailing from Madeira. These crispy cookies are made with flour, sugar, eggs, dark molasses, lard, lemon zest, and spices such as nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. The cookies are baked until puffy and golden brown.
The word broa refers to a type of bread and the shape of these cookies, which resemble small loaves. Broas de mel are especially popular during the festive Christmas season and it's recommended to pair them with tea, fruit liqueurs or even a glass of Madeira wine.
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Espada com banana is a traditional fish dish originating from Madeira. The dish is usually made with a combination of espada (black scabbardfish), bananas, olive oil, flour, eggs, garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and oregano. The fish is filleted and seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic.
The fillets are dredged in flour, dipped in beaten eggs, rolled in breadcrumbs, and fried in olive oil until golden brown. The bananas are peeled, cut lengthwise into two halves, dredged in flour, dipped in egg wash, rolled in breadcrumbs, and fried in olive oil.
Milho frito is a traditional specialty made with cooked cornmeal that is cut into small squares and fried in oil. It originated as a frugal dish in the Portuguese region of Madeira, and was initially prepared plain. Today it is usually enriched with thinly sliced cabbage, garlic, and a variety of fresh herbs.
Milho frito can be enjoyed as a nutritious snack but is traditionally served as a complement to other meat or seafood dishes.
MOST ICONIC Milho frito
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