For Christmas Eve dinner on December 24, it is common in Portugal to serve the King Cake, which is a traditional cake that is eaten at Christmas until the Dos Reis Dia (literally Three Kings Day, a reference to the three kings) on January 6. The cake itself is round with a large hole in the center, resembling a crown covered with candied and dried fruits.
The Bolo Rei is baked from a soft, white dough, with raisins, various nuts, and candied fruits. The characteristic of "broad beans" is also included, and tradition dictates that whoever finds the bean has to pay for the Bolo Rei next year.
It is also tradition to serve fatias douradas, rabanadas or fatias de calving, which is made from pieces of bread scraps (when it is too hard to be consumed normally) soaked in milk or water to soften it, dipped in eggs and then fried in the least possible amount of vegetable oil (to avoid that being absorbed and becoming too greasy).
Then they are sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, soaked in a syrup made with water, sugar, cinnamon and lemon peel or in port or Madeira wine. It is usually eaten cold as a dessert or snack.
And Portugal being a coastal country, the Christmas dinner never lacks the fish that is in fact the cod as the main dish, it is served with sauces, potatoes, eggs or vegetables. It should be noted that cod from the north of Portugal is very popular at these festivals.