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Alguidar is a traditional Portuguese vessel wider than it is tall, with a mouth much larger than its base, shaped like an inverted truncated cone with an outward-turned rim. Made mostly of clay, for centuries it was the great utensil of Portuguese kitchens, used to knead bread, season meat and wash.
Origin and history
The word alguidar comes from the Arabic al-gidar, meaning a large bowl, and is one of many traces of the Arab presence in the vocabulary of Portuguese cooking. Dictionaries also list close relatives: the almofia, a smaller alguidar, and the barrunchão, a larger one.
The clay alguidar was found in almost every Portuguese home, and also in Brazil, where the tradition arrived with pottery. As metal and later plastic containers appeared, clay lost ground, but the name stayed: any wide, low basin is still called an alguidar today.
How it is used
The alguidar was used for everything that needed space and a wide mouth. It was where bread was kneaded, where meat from the pig slaughter was prepared for sausages, where dishes were washed and, in many homes, where children were bathed.
Today, a clay alguidar is still useful for marinating meat, preparing dough, serving salad or bread, or simply as a decorative piece. Before using it with food or over heat, follow the potter’s instructions for that particular piece.
How it is made
A traditional alguidar is thrown on the wheel, with walls opening at an angle from a small base. Once dry, it is fired. In Gondar, in the municipality of Amarante, the potter César Teixeira makes the alguidar among the traditional shapes of Gondar black pottery, thrown on the low wheel and fired in soenga, the pit firing that turns the piece completely black.
Where it comes from
The alguidar is made in potteries all over Portugal, in red, glazed or black clay. The black clay alguidar is a rarity: it comes from Gondar, a village in Amarante, where black pottery survives thanks to a single professional potter still working.
Where to buy
At Ra-Ro you can buy the Black Clay Alguidar by César Teixeira. In September 2026, the product page listed it at €36.20. From the same potter, see also the black clay Casserole, Pot and Jar.
Frequently asked questions
What is an alguidar?
It is a vessel wider than it is tall, with a mouth much larger than its base, traditionally made of clay and used to knead bread, prepare meat and wash.
Where does the word alguidar come from?
From the Arabic al-gidar, meaning a large bowl. It is one of the words of Arabic origin linked to Portuguese cooking.
Where can I buy a clay alguidar?
From traditional potteries or online at Ra-Ro, which sells the Gondar Black Clay Alguidar made by César Teixeira and fired in soenga.
