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Vegetarian on the Portuguese Camino

Val H

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Portuguese (2018)
Any suggestions for vegetarian food I can buy in cafes? (No meat, no fish)
Happy to buy bread and cheese and salad, but wondering about some hot meals ...
Thanks.
 
The 9th edition the Lightfoot Guide will let you complete the journey your way.
My daughter ate a lot of omelettes, egg sandwiches, french fries, patata brava, tortilla, salads, pasta with various non-meat sauces, pizza. We walked the coast from Porto and then switched to the central after 4 days.
 
We met a pelegrino who was a vegetarian, some options were: tortilla patata (if you eat eggs), plata queso or not sure how its spelled (cheese plates), Padron peppers, tomato salad, mixed salad, pizza, however, menu del dia mostly included fish or meat, but sometimes, there was no problem just to order some fries and sides :) For breakfast - not so healthy options as churros and so on.
To add up - not directly answering about restaurant stuff, but food related. At least we loved to hit a local fruteria instead of supermarket for veggies and fruits as soon as we got to a town, buy some fruits, veggies and maybe even some cheese in the supermarket as for a cheaper option than eating in a restaurant (the whole feast for 2 people with dinner and breakfast would be around 7 euros). Also fruit and vegetable quality in Spain was amazing.
 
Last edited:
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
In Iberia, meat or carne means beef / red meat. Hence, chicken, fish, and pork are NOT meat, per se. So, a person so inclined (vegetarian) must be diligent. Even a soup dish may have bits of sausage floating around in it. Just sayin...

Others have done it. It is not easy. But, it is not impossible either. I wish you well...

Hope this helps.
 
Any suggestions for vegetarian food I can buy in cafes? (No meat, no fish)
Happy to buy bread and cheese and salad, but wondering about some hot meals ...
Thanks.
Lentil soup is often available and salad mista and tortilla.
 
Yes, lentil soup is available, and frequently delicious. However, each lentil soup I have had on any Camino, typically has tiny bits of chorizo sausage floating in it. Just be aware if it bothers you.

Incidentally, the sausage DOES impart a delicious flavor. I am not vegetarian. Actually I HATE vegetables, I have done so my entire life, but that is my bad.

But I do appreciate plain food and home-type cooking done well. Across Spain and Portugal, the lentil soup or Sopa de Abuela (grandmother's soup) are typically the best. But if you eschew meat of all types, it is caveat emptor...

Hope this helps.
 
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Yes, lentil soup is available, and frequently delicious. However, each lentil soup I have had on any Camino, typically has tiny bits of chorizo sausage floating in it. Just be aware if it bothers you.

Incidentally, the sausage DOES impart a delicious flavor. I am not vegetarian. Actually I HATE vegetables, I have done so my entire life, but that is my bad.

But I do appreciate plain food and home-type cooking done well. Across Spain and Portugal, the lentil soup or Sopa de Abuela (grandmother's soup) are typically the best. But if you eschew meat of all types, it is caveat emptor...

Hope this helps.
Thank you
 

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