Tuga Pops − Friday, June 5, 2020, 6 Years ago in Pork Recipes
4 out of 5 with 76 ratings

Azorean Torresmos de Vinha D'alhos – Traditional Recipe

Authentic Azorean torresmos de vinha d'alhos—slow-cooked, tender, and rich in flavor with red pepper, garlic, paprika, and red wine.
6 h 10 min 6 servings Easy Prep time 15 min Cooking Time 2 h 55 min

Master the authentic Azorean torresmos recipe right in your own kitchen. This definitive guide to Portuguese marinated pork ribs delivers the ultimate vinha d'alhos experience. Slow-cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, this commanding dish guarantees a deeply flavorful, traditional meal that completely satisfies your craving for true island heritage.


 

The Story of Azorean Torresmos de Vinha D'alhos – Traditional Recipe

The history of Azorean Torresmos de Vinha D'alhos begins with a brilliant Portuguese preservation method. Before modern refrigeration, islanders ingeniously marinated pork in a robust blend of red wine and crushed garlic. This technique safely preserved the meat while deeply tenderizing those tough, fatty cuts.

This iconic wine and garlic marinade is actually the famous historical ancestor of the popular Indian vindaloo. Portuguese explorers proudly brought their signature flavor profile across the globe during their maritime voyages. Today, this rich heritage recipe remains a beloved comfort food staple across the gorgeous Azorean islands.

To create the perfect family dinner, you will want to serve these slow-cooked ribs with authentic regional sides. A steaming scoop of fluffy white rice is absolutely essential for capturing that incredible pan sauce. You can also easily pair this wonderful pork with crispy roasted potatoes for a highly satisfying crunch.

Never underestimate the magical power of freshly baked bread when enjoying this deeply flavorful Portuguese masterpiece. A warm, crusty roll is truly the ultimate tool for wiping your dinner plate completely clean. Finally, a simple green salad dressed with premium olive oil offers a bright, refreshing contrast to the heavy pork.

Your dinner guests will absolutely love the combination of these rich flavors and comforting side dishes. This unforgettable meal brings the true warmth of a traditional Portuguese kitchen right into your own home.

Ingredients

4 lbs (1.8 kg) pork spare ribs, the fattest part4 tbsp (60 ml) red crushed pepper5 crushed garlic cloves1 cup (240 ml) red wine1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) freshly ground white pepper1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) freshly ground black pepperSalt, to taste1/2 lb (225 g) lard or 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil1 1/2 tbsp (22.5 ml) sweet paprika

Equipment:

Deep dishThick-bottomed pan with lid

Directions

  1. The day before, or at least 3 hours before, cut the ribs into large pieces and set aside.
  2. In a deep dish, mix the red crushed red pepper very well with the crushed garlic, paprika, the wine and a pinch of salt.
  3. Add the meat and mix well.
  4. Cover and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight.
  5. When you are ready, place the meat in a thick-bottomed pan together with the marinade.
  6. Heat the pan and add the lard or oil.
  7. Cook for approximately 10 minutes on high heat.
  8. Lower the heat and cover with a lid.
  9. Cook on a very low heat for 2 hours and 45 minutes, or until the meat is very tender and it peels off the bone, stirring gently from time to time.
  10. Rectify the salt and sprinkle with white and black pepper.
  11. Mix and cook for another 5 minutes over low heat.
  12. Remove the pan from the heat, let it sit with the lid on for 10 to 15 minutes, drain the fat and serve.

Adapted from a Recipe by: Mundo Azores

Nutritional Facts (Per Serving)

Calories
650 kcal
Fat
52 g
Carbs
4 g
Protein
45 g

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Comments (19)

Matt
Matt
My Grandma (Avoi) used to make this everytime I went there but my family refers to it as Tuhemge or something along the pronunciation as that. Has anyone heard of it referred to as that?
3 Years ago, Saturday, July 29, 2023

Tuga Pops
Tuga Pops
Hi Matt, yes “torresmos”.
3 Years ago, Saturday, July 29, 2023

Maria
Maria
I'm from Aveiro my mom makes this and I do to but we call it Rejoes it's cut in to chunks of pork sea salted to taste and let it sit for about an hour and then in a pot you add 2 bars of lard and cook it on low heat until gold and brown snd then remove from pot let it sit and drain fat snd then enjoy,
Continentais chamam Rejoes 🇵🇹
3 Years ago, Tuesday, May 16, 2023

helen souza
helen souza
I have my mother in law's handwritten recipe. They were from the island of Treceira. She had a heavy bottom pan, I use a Lecruset dutch oven. She seasoned hers with salt and cumin and pepper. Rubbed a good deal of Crisco on the dutch oven. Seasoned pork butt or shoulder cut into chunks. I've used meaty country style spare ribs also. Pour a little homemade Portuguese wine over and leave on counter for one hour. Cook low and slow in the oven. I actually like to put just a dash of cinnamon on mine.
4 Years ago, Thursday, April 14, 2022

Jeffrey
Jeffrey
I am surprised to see this comment left only a day ago. Came here looking for a recipe to surprise my Portuguese family with at Easter this weekend and torresemos were always our favorite. My grandma Lucille was also a Souza coincidentally and I came here looking for something like her recipe. Going to add the cumin and cinnamon like you suggested because I distinctively remember that seasoning in her dish. Thx!
4 Years ago, Saturday, April 16, 2022

Debbie
Debbie
What kind of wine do you use?
4 Years ago, Thursday, April 14, 2022

Tuga Pops
Tuga Pops
Any good red wine will do Debbie.
4 Years ago, Thursday, April 14, 2022

Clinton Fernandez
Clinton Fernandez
Another winner PR! I am going to make this! the recipes that you post are wonderful!
4 Years ago, Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Tuga Pops
Tuga Pops
Awesome Clinton, thank you. 👍👍
4 Years ago, Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Annie
Annie
My mom used to make something she called/pronounced “treshums”… this seems like a close spelling toressmos , but she didn't fry her pork and it wasn't ribs. I think. It was pork butt or shoulder, cut into cubes, with pimenta moida, garlic that she marinated but baked/roasted in the oven. Anyone familiar with a recipe like this? It was sort of like a cacoila but it wasn't that. Thanks.
4 Years ago, Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Helen souza
Helen souza
Yes my Hubby's family pronounces trishums also. His family and my son in law's family are from Treceira. They use a lot of cinnamon in their cooking. I suspect a holdover from being on the Spice Island route centuries ago. My family from deep in the Appalachia hollers could never afford cinnamon, it was very expensive. Hubby's family tossed it around liberally on very humble dishes. I bought pumpkin pie spice because it seems to give me the closest taste to my Hubby's mom's recipes. See my recipe above.

4 Years ago, Thursday, May 5, 2022

Tuga Pops
Tuga Pops
Hi Annie, you can use different cuts of pork to make torresmos, from what you wrote it seems to be what she did.
4 Years ago, Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Claudia
Claudia
Sounds like an awful lot of pepper: 4 tablespoons? Red crushed pepper, in addition to white pepper, black pepper!! Burned mouth and throat!
4 Years ago, Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Lucy
Lucy
For 4 lbs of pork that's a great amount of pepper. Portuguese food has flavour!
4 Years ago, Thursday, February 3, 2022

Tuga Pops
Tuga Pops

The best thing about making food is that you can always cutback or add more of what you like Claudia, if you think it is going to be to hot for you, you can just do it to taste.

4 Years ago, Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Karen Costa
Karen Costa
Are you using boneless or bone in ribs?
4 Years ago, Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Tuga Pops
Tuga Pops

The author used bone in Karen, but you can use either one.

4 Years ago, Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Joseph
Joseph
This may be made ahead of time. Remove the cooked meat and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator (up to 3 days). Pour the broth into a separate container and refrigerate. When chilled, remove the fat that has accumulated at the top.
When ready to eat, place the meat into the same cooking pot previously used. Pour the cooking broth over the meat. Cover; heat at medium until the liquid is just at the bubbling point. Turn off heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
4 Years ago, Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Tuga Pops
Tuga Pops
Thanks for the tip Joseph.
4 Years ago, Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Tuga Pops

Joined 11 Years ago n/a
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