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Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima

Rice cooked with pork, beef and chicken, pork blood and spices, served with rojões and sausages. The Municipality of Ponte de Lima, in the district of Viana do Castelo, calls it the hallmark of its gastronomy.

Traditional dish from Viana do Castelo

Also known as: arroz de sarrabulho, sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima

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Portugal
Portugal
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima — Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima — Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima — Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima — Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima

Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima — Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Arroz de sarrabulho in the style of Ponte de Lima is a dark, moist rice cooked in the broth of several meats — pork, beef and chicken — with pork blood and spices such as cumin. It is served with rojões (fried pieces of pork), sausages such as floured tripas and chouriça, liver, belouras and browned potatoes.

Ponte de Lima is a town in Alto Minho, on the banks of the Lima river, in the district of Viana do Castelo. The Municipality presents arroz de sarrabulho as the hallmark of its gastronomy and one of the drivers of the municipality's economy. In January, the town dedicates a gastronomic weekend to the dish, and on Domingo Gordo, before Lent, it is traditional to eat hearty dishes like sarrabulho.

According to those responsible for the certification request, the recipe was made in the manor houses and farmhouses of the region in the 17th century and moved to restaurants in the 19th century. The confraternity dedicated to the dish considers the cook Clara Penha (1836–1924) the major reference: in the early 20th century she brought sarrabulho, until then a family cuisine, to the table of her boarding house, and her niece kept the recipe on menus. Dozens of restaurants in the municipality serve the dish.

Arroz de Sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima was registered by the European Union as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed in 2025. The protection refers to the recipe and the method of preparation.

It is a winter dish and for long midday meals, meant to be shared at the table. It is typically accompanied by the region's vinho verde.

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Where it comes from

Viana do Castelo

Ingredients

Arroz carolino rice, pork, beef and chicken, pork blood, cumin and other spices. Accompaniments: rojões, floured tripas, chouriça, liver, belouras and browned potatoes.

How it is eaten

Hot, with rojões, sausages and potatoes on the side, to be shared at the table. It is usually accompanied by the region's vinho verde.

When it is eaten

Mainly in winter. Ponte de Lima dedicates a gastronomic weekend to the dish in January, and it is traditional on Domingo Gordo.

Your questions

Questions about Arroz de sarrabulho à moda de Ponte de Lima

What is arroz de sarrabulho in the style of Ponte de Lima?

A rice cooked in the broth of pork, beef and chicken, with pork blood and spices, served with rojões, sausages, liver and potatoes.

Where is Ponte de Lima located?

It is a town in Alto Minho, on the banks of the Lima river, in the district of Viana do Castelo, in northern Portugal.

When is arroz de sarrabulho eaten?

Mainly in winter. Ponte de Lima dedicates a gastronomic weekend to the dish in January, and it is traditional to eat it on Domingo Gordo, before Lent.

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