The Cataplana: Arabic-Influenced Cooking in the Algarve

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Written by: | Last updated on February 9, 2024 | Est. Reading Time: 4 minutes

The cataplana is a clam-shaped cooking pot that originates from the Algarve in Southern Portugal, and this is where you’re most likely to find cataplana dishes on the menu. Originating from the Algarve means that a lot of cataplana recipes are fish or seafood-based, although they are quite a few meat-based recipes out there as well.

The cataplana is one of Portugal’s tastiest dishes, and it’s definitely worth trying a cataplana dish while you’re visiting. Most restaurants require a minimum of two people, so you may have to convince someone else but don’t worry: they’ll thank you after. Be sure to keep some bread aside for mopping up the juices at the end.

Want to learn to cook a cataplana?

Try this market tour where you visit Loulé market and then learn how to make a traditional seafood cataplana.

Cataplanas are traditionally made of copper (although they were first made from zinc), but a lot of the more modern cataplanas are made from materials like aluminium and stainless steel. Each side of the cataplana is shaped like a clam or wok, and they’re connected by a small hinge. One side is placed onto the heat and filled up with the ingredients – it can be anything as long as there is some form of sauce – and then the lid is closed and left to cook.

cataplana sweet potato octopus
Sweet potato and octopus cataplana

It’s nowhere near as airtight as a pressure cooker, but it does trap a lot of the steam and is kind of like an early prototype of a pressure cooker. It’s often compared to a tagine, and there’s a theory that the cataplana may have been invented while the Algarve was under Moorish rule.

Copper cataplanas distribute the heat evenly, and this is one of the reasons that they’re so great for cooking with. They also have a set-and-forget quality to them, much like a slow cooker, allowing you to multitask while making dinner.

Aside from the taste cooking in a cataplana gives, it’s also fantastic for serving. Most cataplanas come with a cork stand, which allows you to put the cataplana in the centre of the table. It’s very presentable, and it saves you the effort of serving everyone up in the kitchen as well.

You can buy a cataplana in the Algarve, either at a specialist shop where you’re more likely to find the prettier and more traditional copper cataplanas or in the supermarket where you’re more likely to find the more modern and cheaper steel and aluminium cataplanas. They are quite bulky, though, so you may be better off ordering online than trying to squeeze one into your suitcase.

If you want to order online, you’ll find cataplanas on Amazon as well as at specialist online shops like cataplana.com. They’re great to have in the kitchen, and they make for very unique gifts for the chefs in your life.

The most common dishes are probably cataplana de mariscocataplana de peixe, cataplana de peixe e marisco, cataplana de carne de porco com amêijoas. You’ll also find cataplana recipes that are dedicated to a specific type of fish like cataplana de bacalhau or cataplana de tamboril.

A lot of those are fish-based, but that doesn’t mean you can’t cook meat in a cataplana. You absolutely can. Boned meat, particularly chicken, lamb, and goat all tend to work well in the cataplana but feel free to throw in whatever you feel like.

Onions, tomatoes, garlic, white wine, and herbs all feature in traditional Portuguese recipes, but don’t feel like you have to stick to what feels traditional. Although some people might think it’s sacrilege, cataplanas are great for making curries and soups and other international dishes.

And, if you fall in love with cataplana dishes, be sure to check out the annual Castro Marim Festa da Cataplana (Cataplana Festival) which usually takes place in the Algarve in June.

Have you tried a cataplana dish? Do you own a cataplana? Share your love for this unique Portuguese pot by leaving a comment below. 

Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

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Comments

  1. Cataplanas are wonderful dishes. I have an 11″ cataplana, which is great for my husband and I. However, we do entertain a good bit, and would like to find a really large one so that we can share this wonderful dish with our friends. I know that they exist, because I have seen them in decorator magazines, and on the Emeril Lagasse show. Does anyone know where a larger one is available? I would appreciate any input. Thanks, folks.

    Reply
  2. Just bought a cataplana in Tavira while in the Algarve. There are many receipes for 4 or more and that’s good but occasionally I want the same receipes for 2. Are there recipes for 2 or can I just divide everything by one half?

    Reply
  3. When I looked at the photo I wondered if there is any relationship to the Moroccan tajine cooking dish, which also has a high lid, although a different shape. Is there Moroccan influence in the food in Portugal?

    Reply
    • Hi Beck,

      There are some places that offer cataplanas, like Sardinha Alfandega on Rua Sobre-o-Douro, but I’m afraid I’ve never tried one while in Porto. Will have to investigate next time I’m there!

      James

      Reply

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