assados

Assados is a Portuguese term used to describe foods prepared by roasting or grilling with dry heat. The word comes from the verb assar, to roast, and the suffix -ado, and it functions as both a noun and an adjective in many Lusophone cuisines. In everyday use, assados can refer to meat, fish, poultry, and vegetables that have been cooked in ovens, on grills, or over open flames.

Cooking methods typically involve high or moderate heat to develop a browned exterior while preserving moisture inside. Common techniques include oven roasting, spit roasting, and barbecuing on grills. Seasonings often include salt, garlic, herbs, and spice blends, occasionally combined with marinades or oil to enhance flavor and tenderness. Temperature control and turning or basting during cooking are important for even doneness.

Regional usage varies. In Brazil, assados frequently appear as family meals or social gatherings, with many dishes centered on carne assada (roast beef) or frango assado (roast chicken), and in some contexts associated with churrasco-style grilling. In Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking regions, assados may refer to tradicional oven-roasted dishes such as peixe assado (roasted fish) or carne assada, as well as grilled preparations known as assados na brasa.

See also: churrasco, asado, roasted dishes. Notes on safety emphasize cooking poultry to safe internal temperatures and avoiding cross-contamination.