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Healthy Porto Travel Guide

Lynn — Tue, 23 May 2017 06:07:01 +0000

My healthy Porto trave guide – everything you need to know to experience a healthy Porto trip.

Our trip to Porto may have already been a few months ago, but now that summer is almost here, I really wanted to share my Porto experience with you, because some of you might be flying to Portugal this summer. If you do, please do not only visit the Algarve coast, but rent a car and drive all the way to the northern part of this beautiful country. Porto amazed me – it was by far one of the best city trips I have ever taken, and I think you will love it just as much as I do.

Eating healthy in Porto was not as easy as it is in many other European countries these days. But we did find some delicious and healthy places, you just have to look a little bit more thoroughly, and you will be treated with cute cafés, restaurants and buffet-style delis. My Porto highlight was this cute little Espresso shop on the river. It only had two chairs and a wodden table on the tiny pathway that seperated it from the railway tracks of the tourist cable car railway. It served the cheapest coffee I have ever had (I think it was 80 Cents) and they sold frehly pressed juices for just 1,20 Euros.

This experience basically sums up our Porto experiene. We were almost always sure that the waiter must have missed something on our check, because everything was so affordable. If you’re looking for a budget travel destination in the sun, Porto is your go-to place.

Best Travel Time:

We visited Porto in October – which ended up to be the perfect choice for us. It was definitely a little chilly in the morning and at night, but when the sun came out, you could totally walk around in tshirt and shorts. Since you have to take the train a little bit out of the city to go the beach, I would not necessarily recommend Porto for a beachy summer trip. However, the area around Porto is well-known amongst surfers, so if you’re a surfer, then summer would be your ideal travel time.

Getting to Porto:

You can easily reach Porto with budget airlines such as RyanAir from many cities in Europe. We flew in from Bremen, the flight was just about three hours. From the airport, we took the train into the city, and walked the few meters to our AirBnB. Of course you could take a taxi, too, but the train is super comfortable and cheaper. We also rented a car for two days to explore the sourroundings of Porto and all its little fishermen towns. Best decision ever! It was one of the most special days in Portugal and definitely my favorite part of the trip.

Where to Stay in Porto:

As with all European cities, my answer is always: AirBnB. We stayed at the cutest little AirBnB right in the cool art-district in Porto. If you’re looking for an affordable cute little place to spend four lovely nights in Porto, Maria has your back. She runs a furniture shop right across from her AirBnB building, so she was always there to answer our questions. I believe there are three apartments that she rents out, and we had the one on the ground floor, but there are also bigger ones upstairs with a balcony. The building has a cute little garden where you can take your breakfast or coffee at, and there is even a place to do laundry if you’re staying for a longer period of time.

Healthy Eating in Porto:

O Diplomate – definitely my breakfast recommendation

Of course we found O Diplomante on our last day – such a shame, because I could have eaten there every single day. It kind of has a student vibe, serves the most delicious acai bowls and pancakes (both for for 3.50 Euros) , and cappuchino for 1.10 Euros. I still cannot believe how affordable food is in Porto. Unfortunately O Diplomate does not have an outside sitting-area, but the food definitely makes up for that.

Quintal Bio Shop – cute little organic shop and café

This place was just a few minutes away from our AirBnB, so if you decide to take me up on my AirBnB recommendation, you will want to visit Quintal for breakfast or just your morning coffee with organic plant-based milk. There is a small shop in the front and a little deli and café in the back. They even have a green outside sitting area, which I loved.

Cultura Dos Sabores – vegetarian und vegan Buffet

Culura Dos Sabores, a buffet-style restaurant, is located just across from O Diplomata, and serves affordable lunch and dinner options for vegetarians and vegans. It is an all-veggie restaurant, so if you’re traveling with a loving meat-eater, be sure to tell him or her before going there. For Porto, Cultura dos Sabores is a bit pricy, with the dinner buffet coming around at 17 Euros, but if you consider that they have sushi, dessert and several hot dishes, it is definitely worth it. Plus you get to eat your food on a swing – how awesome is that?

Daterra – a vegetarian and plant based dream buffet

Obviously we found Daterra on our last day and had already eaten when we passed it. I nevertheless went in and almost felt like crying because we had just shuffed down a not-so-healthy-sandwich. So we did not eat at Daterra, but we looked and smelt – and it looked and smelt amazing. Especially exciting is the large dessert section with things like acai or apple tarte or avocado mousse. Definitely my secret tip for amazing looking plant-based foods.

Essencia – a more upscale place for a date-night in Porto

We found Essencia through TripAdviser and we were not disappointed. It is more upscale then the previously mentioned places, and you need a reservation to get a table. The prices are a bit more expensive for Porto standards, but they are still absolutely ok. We paid about 30 Euros each for an appetizer, entrée and half a bottle of wine, which is worth the money. I had a mango pine-nut salad and a curry and a glass of red wine. Essencia is located a bit further outside the city, so take the train or a taxi if you do not want to walk.

Casinha – cute and modern boutique and café

Casinha is a cute little place located just across from Daterra and it is more a place for a quick shopping break than a big dinner. I really liked the modern interior and the modern vibe in this café. They serve acai bowls, salads, quiches and of course, juices, smoothies and coffee. It’s not all healthy, but definitely has some healthy choices. It also has a beautiful garden, even though it is located in the busiest street.

Mercado do Bohao – THE farmers’ market in Porto

If you love fresh fruits and veggies, then you should definitely visit the Mercado do Bolhao. We went there on our first day, ran there, bought some groceries and walked back home to our apartment (which was really stupid, because running was so much faster than walking). The famous market needs to be on your must-see list – you can get anything from fresh breads, to tiles and even superfoods such as goji berries for just 1.50 Euros.

Drinks und Crêpes im Mao Travessa

Mao Travessa was our go-to place at night. It’s a place especially for locals, but they do have an English menu. We ordered their delicious crepes and bruschettta and of course a pitcher of sangria. Definitely a nice place to end an exciting day in Porto.

My secret garden tip – Rota de Cha

We discovered Rota de Cha by accident, when we heard music coming from behind the street where our AirBnB was located. I had seen the facade of rota de cha a couple of times when we passed it on our way to or from our AirBnB. One day, I decided to have a look – and I was not disappointed. It was like entering a different world. A world of tea, japenese culture mixed with portuguese tarts and treats.

Shopping in Porto

Armazen – Vintage Shopping & Bar

We discovered this hidden gem while running up and down the massive stairs of Porto (our morning workout). We came back in the afternoon, because I just had to admire all the vintage furniture. Armazen is basically a huge vintage hall with a small bar and café on the inside. There is also a nice outside sitting area, where we enjoyed some drinks and vegetarian sandwiches.

Coracao Alecrim – the cutest sustainable interior shop in Porto

You probably guessed it – Coracao Alecrim was my favorite store in Porto. It has a focus on sustainability, and everything in the store is absolutely beautiful. It is a bit more pricy, but worth every penny. Definitely a must-visit if you love vintage and indie shopping.

Things to See:

You will find all the must-sees in every Porto city guides. I definitely recommend visiting the library where J.K. Rowling was apparently inspired to write Harry Potter, the train station and the crazy high bridge Ponte Dom Luis I that connects the two parts of Porto. If you are afraid of heights (or lows like me), then you might have to cross the bridge rather quickly. Also, the entire area near the river is definitely worth exploring. Be sure to walk up and down the major stairs, stop and admire the tiles on the wall and the breathtaking view over the river.

Places, we did not visit, but that have great ratings on TripAdvisor:

Zenith Brunch & Cocktails Bar

Have you been to Porto yet? Do you have other recommendations of tips? Let me know in the comments below.

Merken

The post Healthy Porto Travel Guide appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Cannellini Bean Stew with Hazelnuts and Dill

Lynn — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 05:30:47 +0000

Warming cannellini bean stew with hazelnuts and dill for cozy winter nights.

Since I will be gliding down the Austrian slopes when you read this, I thought it would only be fair to post this super duper delicious winter stew so you do not hate me too much for being on winter break. Not like you could ever hate me, right? But I just love treating you with great recipes, especially when I am on vacation.

I think that this is the most German recipe that I have ever posted, and it is probably not even close to the German cuisine at all. But it uses dill and parsley, some of the most commonly used herbs in my country, so I’m just gonna go ahead and call this my first German recipe on the blog so far. Now, that does not mean that it does not taste good. While I am not the biggest fan of the German cuisine, we DO make incredible stews or one-pots, and this cannellini bean stew is definitely a winner in my opinion.

Since I added cannellini beans, I guess I cannot technically refer to it as German, but rather a German-Italian-Scandinavian fusion stew (now that would have been a fun title, why didn’t I think of that before?). What does Scandinavia have to do with it, you may ask. Well, they love their dill, and dill is what really makes the taste difference in this recipe. So please do not skip the dill.

You are free to play around with the other ingredients, especially the vegetables, so just use what you have in the fridge. I especially loved the combination of fennel and fennel seeds, which is funny because I used to hate fennel. Now I really love it, and I try to add it to all of my recipes, which is probably really mean as my boyfriend is still at my previous hate-stage with fennel.

I have used cannellini beans in this roasted red bell pepper soup before, and I thought that they would make the perfect addition due to its high fiber content. Fiber is great for blood sugar regulation as it prevents our blood sugar level from spiking or dropping too quickly, thus preventing energy lows.

As a special ingredient I also added roasted hazelnuts, which gives this stew so much more texture and something to chew on, which is rather uncommon for stews. If you do not have hazelnuts in stock you could also try roasted cashews, pecans, almonds or pumpkin or sunflower seeds. Whatever flavor combination you chose, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this warming winter stew.

Cannellini Bean Stew with Hazelnuts and Dill

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

40 mins

Author: Lynn Hoefer

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 red onions
2 garlic cloves
250g of mushrooms
1 fennel
1 yellow bell pepper
1 zucchini
1 teaspoon of fennel seeds
1 teaspoon of coriander seeds
1 teaspoon of paprika powder
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of chili flakes
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1,5l (6 cups) of veggie broth or water (see below)
4 tablespoons of home made vegetable stock paste if using water
3 cans of cannellini beans (600g)
1 lemon
1 bunch of fresh parsley
3 stalks of fresh dill
2 stalks of fresh mint
1 stalk of cilantro (optional)
½ cup (75g) of hazelnuts
sea salt and pepper

Instructions

Wash the vegetables and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Chop the onion and garlic, and fresh herbs. Place all the spices on a small plate. Half the hazelnuts. Drain the cannellini beans.
Add the spices to a large pot and heat for about 4 minutes until fragrant. Add the olive oil, onions and garlic and sauté for about 3 minutes. Then add the vegetables and tomato paste and sauté for another 3 - 4 minutes.
Add the water and vegetable stock paste or vegetable broth and let simmer for 20 minutes on medium heat.
Now add the cannellini beans and heat for another 5 minutes. While the beans are heating up, place the hazelnuts into a small pan and roast them on medium to high heat for about 5 minutes until fragrant.
Season the stew with the juice of the lemon, sea salt and pepper.
Garnish the stew with a generous amount of herbs and hazelnuts.

Enjoy!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

Feel free to leave a comment below, and don’t forget to tag your creations on social media using #heavenlynnhealthy.

I’d love for this blog to be a dialogue.

The post Cannellini Bean Stew with Hazelnuts and Dill appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Warming Winter Stew with Sweet Potatoes, Kale & Buckwheat

Lynn — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 06:52:07 +0000

An easy-peasy winter stew with sweet potatoes, kale & buckwheat that’s here to keep you warm this freezing winter season.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. At least over here in my tiny town in Germany.

Funny story actually.

Last week, when the first snow arrived, I was out sick and stuck to bed for three days. We have this little Velux window in our bedroom, so I was constantly staring at it, and watching the layer of snow become thicker and thicker. And so the snow was here to stay, the local public transportation came to a halt (obviously!), and my whole town looked like winter wonderland – in November! So by Thursday, I finally decided to get back out again, and I called my mom, who lives a short, one hour car ride away from me. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hi Mom, isn’t it beautiful outside?

Mom: What are you talking about?

Me: The Snow – the Winter Wonderland.

Mom: Are you still sick?

Turns out, it was just us and our tiny little town and its closest surroundings that were blessed with that much snow last week.

So, after I finally got my appetite back, which sadly vanished completely with my stomach bug, I really craved something warm, hearty and savory to get me back on track. This warming winter stew with sweet potatoes, kale and buckwheat is just perfect for this purpose. It contains everything that you need to stay heathy during the cold seasons.

There is comforting sweet potatoes, pears, kale, buckwheat and oh those pomegranate seeds are just heaven! Really, do not skip them, because they are the big surprise in this stew. And the pears, which I just happen to add to the stew by coincidence. They add a nice natural sweetness to the whole dish.

Really, this dish just makes you want to cuddle up on the sofa, listen to Christmas songs on repeat and watch the snow fall (if there is any). I am really hoping for a White Christmas this year, and I have a feeling that we might get lucky this time (fingers crossed X).

I hope you’ll enjoy this warming comfort food and if you speak German, do stop by my column at Ohhh…Mhhh today.

Warming Winter Stew with Sweet Potatoes, Kale & Buckwheat

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

45 mins

Author: Lynn Hoefer

Serves: 5

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 red onion
2 cm (about 1 inch) of fresh ginger
2 teaspoons of paprika
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
1 teaspoon of turmeric
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon of sea salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 sweet potatoes (mine weighed about 800g)
1 small bulb fennel
2 bell peppers
2 pears
1 can of diced tomatoes
4 cups (1000ml) of water
3 tablespoons of homemade vegetable stock paste
1½ cup (150g) of buckwheat
1 lemon
4 large handfuls of kale or spinach
1 pomegranate
fresh herbs to serve (I used fresh mint, parsley and cilantro)

Instructions

Start by prepping your vegetables: peel and dice the onion and ginger and mince the garlic. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Remove the outer layers from the fennel, remove its core and finely chop it. Remove the seeds from the bell peppers and cut them into bite-sized pieces as well. Then remove the core from the pears and cut in squares. Wash the kale and remove it the leaves from the stem.
In a large dutch oven or pot, heat the olive oil over medium to high heat. Add the chopped onion, ginger and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Then add all the spices and sauté until you can really smell the flavor.
Add the sweet potatoes, carrots, fennel, bell peppers and buckwheat and fry for about a minute or two.
Now add the water, vegetable stock paste and diced tomatoes and bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sweet potatoes are almost tender. You might need to stir it occasionally or add more water.
While the stew cooks, remove the seeds from the pomegranate.
Once the potatoes are almost done, add the pears and cook for another 10 minutes. Add the kale right before serving, and stir to combine. Season with additional salt, according to your taste.
Serve with fresh herbs, pinch of lemon juice and the pomegranate seeds.

Enjoy!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

Feel free to leave a comment below, and don’t forget to tag your creations on social media using #heavenlynnhealthy.

I’d love for this blog to be a dialogue.

The post Warming Winter Stew with Sweet Potatoes, Kale & Buckwheat appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Turmeric & Vanilla Post-Yoga One-Pot & Le Creuset Giveaway

Lynn — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 05:50:22 +0000

My blog celebrated its first blog birthday on March 1st, and I almost forgot about it. It seems surreal that I started this blog just a year ago. I can’t believe how many of you are actually reading my posts, cooking my recipes and sharing their story with me. I’m really overwhelmed, and absolutely grateful for all of you. Thank you for all of your love and support. Without you, the blog would have never grown so fast, and I would not be as happy as I am right now. This website is my baby, it’s my passion, and it gives me so much joy to create, shoot and post these recipes, and getting positive feedback is the greatest reward I could ask for. So far the blog has gotten over 450.000 page views from 130.000 readers from all over the world – there are even people from Vietnam, Kenya, Colombia and Bahrain reading this blog – which is so unbelievably crazy. I am so happy right now, and I am celebrating my first blog birthday in Amsterdam with my boyfriend this weekend. Of course this blog birthday wouldn’t be a real blog birthday without a little giveaway to thank you. If you currently reside in Germany, then head over to the German blog post for an awesome Le Creuset* Giveaway.

This Turmeric & Vanilla Post-Yoga One-Pot has been my favorite meal these past few weeks. I’ve really enjoyed it after late night yoga or pilates sessions, because the spices like turmeric and vanilla really warm and nourish the body from the inside. It’s really the best “feel-good”-meal that I could eat every day. The combination of turmeric and vanilla is pure heaven. Turmeric is also the spice that you should really eat after a workout as it contains curcuma, which speeds up the fat burning process and helps reduce sore muscles. The vanilla taste is only subtle in this recipe, but it adds a nice sweetness.

If you live in Germany right now, then head over to the German post for a chance to win one of 5 Le Creuset* Essential Silicone Spoons in the color of your choice. I’m afraid this giveaway is only for people currently living in Germany right now.

Turmeric & Vanilla Post Yoga One Pot

Prep time

25 mins

Cook time

35 mins

Total time

1 hour

Author: Lynn

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 sweet potatoes
1 zucchini
1 red bell pepper
1 thump-sized piece of ginger
1 onion
3 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons of native coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons of homemade vegetable stock paste
3 cups (750ml) of water
2 cans ( 800ml) of canned tomatoes
3 handful (100g) of fresh spinach
3 teaspoons of turmeric
1 teaspoon of vanilla powder
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of sumac powder (optional)
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
1 teaspoon of cumin
A pinch of nutmeg
A pinch of chili flakes
½ cup (100g) of red lentils
Fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro
1 lemon
brown rice to serve

Instructions

Start by prepping your vegetables: dice the onion and mince the garlic. Finely chop the ginger. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Remove the seeds from the red bell pepper and cut into bite-sized pieces as well. Do the same with the zucchini.
Combine all the spices in a small bowl and mix well. Wash the spinach and set aside.
In a large dutch oven or pot, heat the olive oil over medium to high heat. Add the chopped onion, ginger and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Then add all the spices and sauté until you can really smell the flavor.
Add the water, vegetable stock paste and diced tomatoes and bring to a boil over high heat.
Add the sweet potatoes, zucchini and red bell pepper, and lentils. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let simmer for 30 minutes until the sweet potatoes are starting to become soft.
In the meantime cook the rice according to instructions on the package.
Now add the spinach and the juice of the lemon and stir until the spinach is wilted. Season with additional salt, according to your taste.
Serve with the brown rice and fresh herbs.

Enjoy!

*The silicone spoon is a curtesy of Le Creuset Germany. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Heavenlynn Healthy.

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