Certainly not for everyone, this dish is a staple of Portuguese regional gastronomy
It started as a dish only served at special events or occasions, like weddings or village celebrations. Traditionally it was an ingredient added to the Portuguese stew, but nowadays it has become a staple on its own, making many locals hit the road every weekend to taste this delicacy. It surely deserves a place on any list of the most bizarre foods around the world.
What is Maranho?
Maranho is a popular Portuguese dish made from goat, rice and ham. Basically, it is a bag made out of goat stomach, filled with rice, goat meat and ham. The meat is usually seasoned with mint, parsley and sweet paprika.
Sertã, the place to go for Maranho
It originally comes from the region of Proença-a-Nova, but nowadays it is in Sertã that you can get the best Maranho, also known in town as molhinhos, borlhões or burunhões. Sertã is in the Castelo Branco district, in the Beira Baixa province, a region with a rich food culture.
How to prepare Maranho
We are pretty sure you are the adventurous type, but goat stomach is not an easy thing to find these days. We recommend buying an already prepared Maranho. You can easily get one in Sertã, or in some specialty shops in Lisbon and Porto. Just boil it in water for 15 minutes with a bit of mint, and it is ready to go!
Prefer something more standard?
If you don’t feel like going extreme, join one of our hands-on Portuguese cooking classes, where you can learn more about Portuguese gastronomy and how to prepare traditional dishes.