Can Dogs Eat Portuguese Food? 🇵🇹🐶

Ryan Rothon
Feb 5
3 min read

eight small bowls with different ingredients

A Safety Guide for Expats Living in Portugal with a Dog

Moving to Portugal with a dog is exciting. There's the great weather, outdoor living, and some of the best food in Europe. But if you’re an expat settling in, there is one question you might need to consider:

Can dogs eat Portuguese food?

The short answer: some ingredients are fine, many traditional dishes are not.

Portuguese cuisine often includes garlic, onion, salt, olive oil, cured meats, and rich sauces. All of these thing can be dangerous or unhealthy for dogs, even when fully cooked.

This guide breaks down which Portuguese foods dogs should never eat, which are sometimes okay, and which can actually be good for them, so you can keep your dog safe while enjoying life in Portugal.

Why Portuguese Food Can Be Risky for Dogs

Portuguese cooking is famously simple, but it relies heavily on:

garlic (alho)
onion (cebola)
salt
cured meats (chouriço, presunto)
olive oil
wine-based sauces

Even when cooked, these ingredients do not become dog-safe. This doesn't just apply to savoury foods. Almost all Portuguese desserts and pastries are off the menu. Take the famous Pastel de Nata. That contains sugar, butter, and eggs, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs

❌ Traditional Portuguese Dishes Dogs Should NOT Eat

These are fully cooked Portuguese dishes that are still unsafe for dogs:

Bacalhau Dishes

Bacalhau com Natas – salted cod, cream, onion, garlic
Bacalhau à Brás – cod, onion, garlic, fried potatoes
Bacalhau à Lagareiro – garlic and olive oil heavy

👉 Main issues: extreme salt levels, garlic, fat

Soups & Stews

Caldo Verde – contains onion and chouriço
Feijoada à Portuguesa – beans, pork, garlic, cured meats

👉 Often mistaken as “harmless” but they’re not.

Meat & Fish Dishes

Arroz de Pato – duck fat, chouriço, onion
Carne de Porco à Alentejana – pork, clams, garlic, wine
Cataplana de Marisco – onion, garlic, shellfish
Ameijoas à Bulhão Pato – garlic-heavy sauce
Frango Piri-Piri – spice, salt, skin

👉 Fully cooked ≠ dog-safe

⚠️ Portuguese Foods That Are Only Safe in Very Specific Cases

Some dishes contain individual ingredients that can be okay if removed before seasoning.

Cozido à Portuguesa

✅ Plain boiled carrots
✅ Plain potatoes
❌ Sausages, pork, cabbage cooked with meat

Frango Assado

✅ Small amount of plain breast meat
❌ Skin, seasoning, marinades

Peixe Grelhado

✅ Only if completely plain, no salt, no oil, no bones
❌ Restaurant versions are almost always salted

✅ Portuguese Ingredients That Are Actually Good for Dogs

Prepared simply at home, these are dog-friendly and beneficial:

Protein & Fish

Fresh sardines (grilled or boiled, no salt, bones removed)
Plain chicken or turkey (boiled, skinless)

Vegetables & Carbs

Pumpkin (abóbora) – great for digestion
Sweet potato (batata-doce) – fibre and slow energy
White rice – gentle on sensitive stomachs

Fruit (Occasional Treats)

Apple – no seeds or core
Pear – peeled, seedless

🚫 Common Portuguese Ingredients That Are Dangerous for Dogs

Even in small amounts:

Garlic & onion (fresh, cooked, powdered)
Grapes & raisins
Alcohol (wine, beer, liqueurs)
Cooked bones (especially pork and chicken)
Chocolate desserts (including cakes and pastries)

A Simple Rule for Expats in Portuguese Kitchens

If the food contains:

garlic
onion
salt
sauce
cured or fatty meat

👉 Don’t give it to your dog.

If it is:

plain
single-ingredient
cooked simply

👉 Usually safe in moderation.