Lightened Up Feijoada Recipes

FEIJOADA (BRAZILIAN BLACK BEAN STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add 3/4 cup of chopped onion, green onions, and garlic; cook and stir until softened, about 4 minutes. Pour in the soaked beans and fill with enough water to cover beans by 3 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 2 hours, or until tender.
• While beans are cooking, place ham hocks in smaller pot with 1/4 cup of the chopped onion. Cover with water and simmer, until meat pulls off of the bone easily, about 1 hour. Drain and add to the beans.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place ham, bacon, and remaining onion in a baking dish. Bake 15 minutes or until mixture is crispy.
• Drain the bacon and ham mixture, and add to the beans. Season with bay leaves, coriander, salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered 30 minutes more. Stir in chopped cilantro and parsley just before serving.

FEIJOADA COMPLETA

Steps:

• Soak the smoked and salted meats in a large pan overnight. The next morning, drain, rinse, and soak again until ready to cook. In a large heavy stock pot, heat the oil over medium low heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they are softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 3 minutes more, until the aroma is released. Tie the bay leaves, parsley, and thyme together to make a bouquet garni, and add it to the pan, along with the dried soaked meats, fresh meats, and the water. Bring slowly to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and skim the fats and scum from the top. Cook for 1 hour, then add the beans, return to a simmer, and again skim any scum from the top. Simmer for another hour. As each piece of meat becomes fork tender, remove it, starting with the beef chuck and finishing with the salted meats. Place the cooked meats on a platter, cover with aluminum foil, and keep warm in a low oven. Remove all the meat and skin from the pigs trotter and dice it. Discard the bone and add the meat to the beans. Cut the carne seca into 1/2 inch dice and also return it to the beans. Continue cooking the beans for 20 minutes more, or until tender. Remove any fat or gristle from the remaining cuts of meat, then cube or slice it into bitesized pieces. Arrange the sliced chorizo, pork shoulder, bacon, fresh pork, and beef on one side of a large heated platter and place the beans on the other side (if using the smoked tongue, traditionally it should be placed in the center of the platter). Serve hot, accompanied by Green Mineira Style, cooked white rice and orange segments.

FEIJOADA

Steps:

• Soak beans in cold water for at least 8 hours or overnight. Drain and add to an 8- to 10-quart Dutch oven or large stockpot, nesting pork pieces, bacon, and bay leaves in beans. Cover with water by about 1/2 inch.
• Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer, uncovered, skimming any foam and fat for the first 1 1/2 hours. Remove pork ribs. Cover and cook for another 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add smoked sausage, cover, and continue cooking 1/2 hour more. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt over minced garlic and smash into a paste using the side of a knife blade. Add garlic to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add onion and garlic mixture to beans and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, for a total cooking time of 4 hours, or until all are falling apart and melting into the beans. Season with salt to taste.
• Serve hot with Garlic Rice, Collard Greens, Farofa, Tomato and Onion Vinaigrette, and orange slices.

LIGHTENED-UP FEIJOADA

Steps:

• Soak the beans in cold water 8 hours or up to overnight.Drain the beans, rinse and set aside. Heat a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chorizo and bacon and cook until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the bay leaves, garlic and onions and cook until the onions are tender, an additional 10 minutes. Add the beans and 5 cups of water; bring to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until the beans are tender and most of the water is absorbed, 2 1/2 hours. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and taste for additional seasoning. Serve with rice and orange slices.Source: foodnetwork.comRecipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.