Reading list / 6 books
A practical reading shelf for island recipes, from English-language Portuguese cookbooks to local Madeiran collections.
Selection guidance updated
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Portuguese · 2014 edition
Best for: A Portuguese reader looking for a compact regional cookbook.
The listed collection focuses on Madeira recipes including bolo do caco and bolo de mel, with some food-history context.
Consider: Its Portuguese text may be a barrier for an English-only kitchen; check the edition and recipe index.
Portuguese · 2018 edition
Best for: A Portuguese reader who values food photography as well as recipes.
The book spans starters, soups, fish, meat and desserts in a Madeira-specific presentation.
Consider: It is in Portuguese; verify measurements and ingredient names before choosing it as a working cookbook.
English · 2015 edition
Best for: An English reader seeking a usable broad Portuguese cookbook.
Ortins includes recipes from Madeira, the Azores and mainland Portugal, so the island’s food sits in a larger national kitchen.
Consider: Madeira is a portion of the book, not its sole focus; choose a local Portuguese title for deeper regional concentration.
English · 2019 edition
Best for: A visitor who wants a few walking days built around food and local excursions.
The 13 walks connect route maps with places to eat and recipes to try afterwards. The Monte cable-car outing and island bus tour add options for days when a long walk is not the aim.
Consider: This ISBN identifies the fifth edition from 2019, with a corrected printing in 2024. Check which printing is offered and consult the publisher’s updates: restaurants, transport and trail access can change.
Sources: Sunflower edition, contents and updates ↗
Food & Cooking
Portuguese · 2022 edition
A Portuguese-language collection of traditional Madeiran recipes — soups, fish, meat, breads, desserts and the island’s renowned baking — by Agostinho Vieira.
Food & Cooking
English · 2023 edition
Authentic Portuguese home recipes from the Alentejo plus the Azores and Madeira — salads, garlic-and-wine braises, seafood, breads and desserts — with full-colour photography.
The editor’s guide
If you read Portuguese, start with a Madeira-specific collection. Cozinha Madeirense and Madeira à Mesa concentrate on regional dishes, while Culinária Prática e Tradicional Madeirense offers another island-focused recipe collection. Compare their contents and presentation if you can; the same named dish can appear in several books with different approaches.
For an English-language kitchen, the Ortins books span Madeira, the Azores and mainland Portugal. They offer wider Portuguese context, but Madeira is only part of their scope. Madeira Walk & Eat is a different proposition again: a walking guide that connects outings with restaurants and recipes, useful for a traveller who wants food alongside routes.
Think about whether you want to cook regularly from the book or learn the island’s food culture. A broad Portuguese cookbook may be easier to use at home; a local-language title may give closer regional focus. Check ingredient names, measurements and edition language before ordering.
These comparisons use the titles’ stated scope and edition details. They are selection guidance, not claims that we have personally tested every book.