Fried Moray Eel

"Looks like a sea snake. Tastes incredible."

Moréia is basically a moray eel. Yes, it looks like a snake. No, don’t let that scare you. When it’s done right, it’s fried in very hot oil until the outside becomes seriously crunchy. Golden. Crispy. Addictive. You eat it with your hands. That’s not optional. That’s the rule. On the side, you’ll usually get inhame, a very typical Azorean root vegetable from the potato family. Simple. Earthy. Perfect with fried fish. And of course, you eat it with pimenta da terra. That part is automatic.

You can find moréia frita in many regional restaurants across the islands.

But here’s the catch. It’s seasonal. Not always available. Some places have it, others don’t. It can be tricky to find consistently.

If you see it on the menu, order it.