Cozido das Furnas
Technically known as Cozido das Caldeiras (Furnas stew) – known as Furnas stew because of the area where it is cooked – is one of the most important gastronomic elements of the Azores because, besides being a recipe rich in flavours, it is cooked underground with heat and steam coming from the interior of the earth, which comes from the secondary volcanic phenomena in the area.
It is an endogenous and unique resource under the supervision of the Municipality of Povoação. The same provides a booking service with annual opening hours from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The municipality team is responsible for placing and removing the stews from the holes, and they must be placed in a container that supports high-temperature cooking. At the moment, the area has 56 holes for cooking stews, some for restaurants and the rest for the private-public and visitors.
© Pete Peteers, Bergeje e Kuzma Kuzma
The cooking of this recipe takes about 6 to 7 hours with temperatures ranging from 64º to 96º degrees. The stews are placed in the cooking holes from 6 am and cost 3 euros for individuals. The car park in the area is free for everyone. Visiting the Furnas Valley and tasting the Furnas Stew is without a doubt one of the highlights of your trip to São Miguel and the Azores.
How to make it?
© Luís Estrela
– ½ of a chicken;
– 800 grams of beef;
– 500 grams of pork leg on the bone;
– 250 grams of bacon;
– 300 grams of pork chop;
– 8 potatoes;
– 4 sweet potatoes;
– 4 carrots;
– 1 cabbage;
– 1 black pudding;
– 1 sausage;
– 2 yams;
– A little salt.
Start by placing the ingredients in the pan in the following order: the pork, beef, cabbage, potatoes, yams, carrots, chicken meat, chorizo and black pudding wrapped in a cabbage leaf or silver paper. Season everything with a little salt and pepper. Finally, place the pot with the ingredients inside a canvas room and let it cook in one of the cooking holes in the Furnas Valley.
Where to eat?
To enjoy this delicacy you have several options: either you make your own and leave it in the holes to cook or you can take advantage and eat it in one of the restaurants in Furnas. In the municipality of Ribeira Grande, in the Caldeiras area, there is also this phenomenon of secondary volcanic activity and it is also possible to cook the stew underground.
Restaurant O Miroma
Tony’s Restaurant
Caldeiras & Vulcões Restaurant
Terra Nostra Hotel Garden Restaurant
Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande Restaurant
Furnas Calderas