Explore Guides
Local food map
Faro (Portugal)
Hotels in area
Dessert
Vegan
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
400kcal
8gProtein
60gCarbs
16gFat
10gFibre
100 gServing
* Per serving · 100 g. May vary.
Allergens
🥜 Nuts
Sweet Fig Cheese
How to order / say it
Say it
Queijo de Figo — [kay-zhuh dee FEE-goo]
Order
I'd like the Sweet Fig Cheese, please.
Locally
Gostaria do Queijo de Figo, por favor.
Say locally
A dense cake made of figs and nuts, resembling cheese.
Why try it?
This dessert is a symbol of Algarve's inventive use of local ingredients such as figs and almonds, embodying the region's agricultural bounty and sweet-toothed nature.
How it tastes
Rich and sweet, with a chewy texture from figs and a nutty crunch from almonds. It has an irresistible aroma of cinnamon and citrus zest.
Origin & History — first documented: 1880
Queijo de Figo emerged in the Algarve during periods of agricultural abundance in the late 19th century. As a means to utilize excess figs, this sweet became a regional treasure.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🍯 400 g dried figs
- 🥜 100 g almonds
- 🍯 50 g sugar
- 🧂 1 tsp cinnamon
- 🍋 1 lemon lemon zest
Method
- 1 Chop figs and almonds finely, then mix with sugar and cinnamon.
- 2 Add lemon zest and form into a dense cake resembling cheese.
- 3 Press into a mold and refrigerate until firm.
- 4 Slice and serve as a dessert or snack.
More from Algarve
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Fish & Seafood
Algarve-style Octopus
Polvo à Lagareiro
POHL-voh ah lah-gah-RAY-roh
Baked octopus with potatoes and rich olive oil.
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Meat
Espetada
eh-speh-TAH-dah
Grilled beef skewers seasoned with garlic and salt.
© Wikimedia Commons
Soup
Vegetarian
Açorda à Alentejana
ah-SHOR-dah ah al-en-TEH-zha-na
A traditional bread soup with garlic, coriander, poached eggs, and olive oil.
© Wikimedia Commons
Snack
Fish & Seafood
Pataniscas de Bacalhau
Pah-tah-nees-kahs de Bah-kah-louw
Golden, crispy fritters made with cod.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Confectionery Dom Rodrigo
Dom Rodrigo
dohn-hoh-DREE-goo
A sweet treat featuring egg yolks, almonds, and sugar.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Travesseiros
Travesseiros de Sintra
tra-veh-SAY-ros
A puff pastry filled with a rich almond and egg cream.
🌱
Bread
Vegan
Piriquita Sintra Bread
Pão de Sintra
pah-OH deh SEEN-trah
A rustic bread with a thick crust and soft interior from Sintra.
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Fish & Seafood
Seafood Rice
Arroz de Marisco
ah-ROSH deh mah-REESH-coo
Rich, flavorful rice dish featuring an array of fresh seafood.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Rabanadas
rah-bah-NAH-dahs
A Portuguese version of French toast, fried and covered in sugar and cinnamon.
🥩
Snack
Meat
Frigideiras de Braga
Free-zhee-deh-rahs deh Brah-gah
Small pastries filled with seasoned beef and pork mix, baked to perfection.