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The research, conducted by travel experts at CV Villas, analysed the 10 most popular dishes from 50 global cuisines and ranked the recipe data based on difficulty, preparation time, and the number of ingredients. These metrics were indexed to create the “Confusing Cuisine Score” out of 100, establishing the cuisines posing the most problems for optimistic holidaymakers, in which Portugal scored 60.50.
The Top 5 most challenging cuisines:
- China
- Portugal
- Greece
- India
- Vietnam
Portugal emerged as a close contender for the top spot, ranking second globally with intricate pastries and seafood dishes. The study found that the Pastel de Nata, Portugal’s iconic custard tart, is one of the most difficult dishes to recreate, requiring 14 ingredients and over 145 minutes of preparation.
This ranking reflects a broader trend of European cuisines dominating the list of the most challenging to master. Greece placed third with a score of 60.02, France in seventh with 55.28, and Spain fourteenth with 50.31, reinforcing the Mediterranean’s reputation for sophisticated cooking methods.
Ben Briggs, Head of Marketing at CV Villas, commented that “food is central to the holiday experience, which is why we conducted this research to highlight the diversity and complexity of cuisines worldwide. For European travellers, it’s particularly fascinating to see how our neighbours in Portugal, Greece, and France have shaped culinary traditions that are equal parts inspiring and challenging to replicate”.
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By Nick from Lisbon on 10 Feb 2025, 19:24
Give me a break! Meat and potatoes and dried fish… not to forget custard tarts and soggy veg!!
By Stuart Wood from Algarve on 11 Feb 2025, 10:46
I don’t believe that nonsense for a second.
By Elsy Shallman from Other on 11 Feb 2025, 12:20
What absolute rubbish. The cuisine is terrible. Salt, salt and more salt. Never been so disappointed with a countries food in my entire life and I'm 72!
By Pat from Porto on 12 Feb 2025, 10:19
You are joking!! Portuguese food is dire, boring, bland, and horribly disappointing. After you've got over eating fresh seafood, in 6 months you'll be bored to death. Rice and chips with everything. If you're lucky a fried egg! The only food in the world to come with side serving of anti-depressants! Land of a 1,000 restaurants and only one menu! There's a reason why you don't see Portuguese restaurants all over the world. Portugal, the Temu of Europe! Now let's wait for the pushback from locals, who have never travelled anywhere in their entire life and think they have world class cuisine......
By Michelle from Other on 12 Feb 2025, 10:45
As a Portuguese man who has lived abroad for most of his life, I can confirm that this is untrue. I was always taught that we have the best cuisine in the world. I'm here to tell you that we don't. I'm embarrassed by it actually. I'm embarrassed I believed it. I have to visit family and I can't wait to leave again and eat decent food prepared with care and passion.
By Marco from Lisbon on 12 Feb 2025, 11:20
Ben Briggs needs to get out more. Chips, rice....how hard can it be?
By Gill from Algarve on 12 Feb 2025, 14:49
Mr. Briggs (Head of Marketing), is only claiming this as a marketing exercise, to raise the profile of his company. Which sounds as desperate as some of the readers gastronomic experiences!
By Peter from Alentejo on 13 Feb 2025, 16:53
Criticism from salty British expats should be taken with a pinch of the same salt they accuse us of overusing.
By Q. Ferreira from Lisbon on 14 Feb 2025, 14:45
The score seems to be skewed by one dish, pastel de nata. I’m sorry but one item does not make a cuisine. As one other commenter stated, I have never been more disappointed in a country’s cuisine more than I was with Portugal. I tried. I really did. No snack bar, marisqueria, hole-in-the-wall bifana joint, or Michelin rated restaurant provided anything memorable or even noteworthy.
By Jose from USA on 20 Feb 2025, 17:35