About David Leite

David pursues one of his great passions: fried clams. But not just any fried clams. The fried clams of his youth, the kind with plump, juicy bellies. And there’s a story behind finding them.

Each Portuguese family has its own rendition of this classic, a pantry staple known as massa de pimentão. Here’s how the Leite family makes it.

• 10 M
• 10 M
• 12

Portuguese pork sausage, called chourico, is a tasty alternative to Spanish chorizo. Chourico stars in this supper frittata recipe.

A simple hot pepper sauce made from piri-piri peppers brings big flavor to shrimp in mere minutes. Those Portuguese know what they’re doing.

• 30 M
• 3 H
• 7

This indescribably must-have-more-of-this sauce boasts the complex sweetness of maple syrup and the smoky spice of chipotle peppers. Slather it at will.

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 40 M
• 4

These Mother’s Day recipes are the kind of dishes any mother would die for, especially if fed to her in bed. Just ask David. On second thought, don’t.

David recounts the troubles, frustration, and utter exasperation of learning family recipes from his mother, a true demon in the kitchen.

Remember your mom telling you “Pretty is as pretty does…”? This lovely elixir knows no distinction–it’s just pretty through and through.

• 5 M
• 5 M
• 56

When David decides to DIY bacon, he really decides to DIY bacon. Seriously, folks. You gotta taste his take on cured pig.

• 25 M
• 7 D, 4 H
• 44

Creamy custard is infused with tea for an unusual take on the classic Portuguese flan. The classic caramel topping gives the dessert its depth and sweetness.

• 30 M
• 1 H, 45 M
• 9

Fashioned from chocolate cake, filled and frosted with meringue, and festooned in a feathery pink coconut boa, these are the real deal.

• 40 M
• 1 H
• 51

Stunning enough for special occasions. Easy enough for weekday breakfasts. Marvelous enough to make you want it every damn day.

• 30 M
• 1 H, 30 M
• 22

We’re bewitched, thanks to this aged cookie dough–yes, aged COOKIE DOUGH–that indulges us in an adult cookie with notes of rich butterscotch and bitter dark chocolate.

• 15 M
• 1 D, 12 H
• 242

Buttery, rich cake is ribboned with a marmalade layer, steeped in a blood orange syrup, and topped with a light orange glaze. What more could you want?

• 1 H
• 2 H
• 6