the portuguese are very proud of their cuisine, and like to let the flavors of the well-sourced ingredients do the talking, rather than complicated cooking and flavor blending - modern portuguese cuisine can trace many of its roots back to roman and moorish influences, who introduced many new produces and techniques to the country. 

another important development came in the fifteenth century, when portuguese explorers brought numerous exotic foods and spices back from previously undiscovered lands, again changing the standard portuguese menu, and adding new flavors to work with.

today, the most common ingredients found in portuguese cooking are various fishes and meats, with cod and pork favored by most, whilst rice and potatoes are regularly found to give substance to the dishes - herbs and spices such as coriander, cumin, and paprika, are usually relied upon for the flavor.