Brazilian recipe
Traditional Brazilian black bean and pork stew: a step-by-step guide (Feijoada)
Learn how to prepare an authentic feijoada, featuring tender black beans, a selection of savory pork cuts, and a rich, irresistible seasoning.
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Ingredients
500g salted pork ribs
250g smoked Portuguese sausage
1kg dried black beans
1 cleaned pig's trotter
1 cleaned pig's ear
1 cleaned pig's tail
500g desalted dried beef
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 salted pig's tongue
4 tbsp chopped onion
4 cloves minced garlic
100g smoked bacon
1 whole paio sausage
2 bay leaves
250g smoked Portuguese sausage
1kg dried black beans
1 cleaned pig's trotter
1 cleaned pig's ear
1 cleaned pig's tail
500g desalted dried beef
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 salted pig's tongue
4 tbsp chopped onion
4 cloves minced garlic
100g smoked bacon
1 whole paio sausage
2 bay leaves
Where to find ingredients
Find salted and smoked pork cuts at specialized butchers or local markets. As substitutes for traditional items, smoked ham hock can replace ears or tails, and any high-quality smoked sausage can stand in for Portuguese sausage or paio if unavailable.
Preparation method
- Soak the salted meats in cold water for at least 12 hours, changing the water several times during this period to remove excess salt.
- After desalting, drain the meats, rinse them thoroughly, and set aside.
- In a large pot, add the black beans, the salted meats, the trotter, the ear, the tail, the tongue, the bacon, and the paio.
- Cover the ingredients with water, add the bay leaves, and cook over low heat for about 2 to 3 hours, or until all the meats are tender.
- In a separate skillet, heat the oil and sauté the garlic and onion until lightly golden.
- Remove a ladleful of the cooked beans from the main pot, mash the grains, and mix them into the sautéed onion and garlic.
- Add a few spoonfuls of the cooking liquid to the skillet, stir well, and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Pour this mixture back into the large pot of feijoada to thicken the broth.
- Taste the stew and adjust the salt cautiously, as the meats may still retain a residual amount of salt.
- Cook for an additional 30 minutes so the flavors fully incorporate before serving.
Observations
Feijoada stands as the most iconic dish in Brazilian cuisine, widely celebrated as a symbol of family gatherings and genuine hospitality. This recipe highlights classic cuts of pork and black beans, resulting in a hearty stew that is remarkably rich in flavor and texture. The secret lies in the careful desalinating of the meats and a long, slow cooking process, which allows all ingredients to meld together, creating a thick, comforting broth.
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