Lupins
Lupins are one of the most appreciated snacks on Portuguese terraces, especially in the summer while enjoying a beer. This food is often eaten as a snack in Mediterranean countries and in Latin America. Lupins, like other legumes such as chickpeas, beans, lentils, fava beans, or even peas, have several nutritional properties very interesting for health.
Portugal produces lupins in different parts of the country and can be used as a snack or even flower. Lupin is the seed contained in the fruit pod of a very beautiful plant called “lupine” of the genus Lupinus, whose flowers have a papilionaceous corolla, and can be blue, pink, purple, white, yellow (the one that originates our well-known lupin), red, or even have several colors. Flowering occurs in spring and summer.
The high presence of protein, quality of fiber, and low energy value make lupin a very interesting food for satiation and appetite reduction. Lupin can be used as an animal protein substitute, particularly in vegetarian diets, and is gluten-free. Lupin is one of the main vegetable sources of protein (and less irritating to the stomach when compared to soy, for example) and as such has been unfairly overlooked.
Lupins and beer consume
Some Portuguese terraces or bars usually deliver a small plate of lupins that you can eat while chatting and drinking a cold beer in the summer.
It is common to have salt and in some places really salty since the next step will be perhaps to order another beer. The Portuguese beer market is divided between two major brands, however, there is a niche of craft beers. You will find around 80 brands of Portuguese craft beers with hundreds of references. Pale Ale, Stouts, Lagers.
Beer and wine are the most consumed drinks during meals or even in a social environment. In fact, Portugal is the nation with the highest consumption of wine per capita.
Feel free to check other articles talking about local food or ingredients:
1. Portuguese Oranges
2. Algarve Sweets
3. Sardines
4. Portuguese food spicy?
5. Caldo Verde? (Portuguese Kale Soup)
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