Feijoada
Black beans (preferably dry in natura, if not, than tinned)
Jerked/dried beef
Portuguese paiol sausages or similar
Smoked pork chops
Bacon (slab, not sliced)
(optional if you want the full feijoada experience:
Salted pigs tail/ears/tongue ? can be bought in West Indian shops)
Onions
Garlic
Spring onions
Dark green cabbage
Tart oranges (like Seville)
White rice
Manioc flour
Previous day ? leave beef and pork chops to soak in water. Do the same for the salted goods if using (in separate water). If using dry beans, leave to soak overnight as well.
On day ? if using dry beans, start with these. Chop onion finely into a pan with olive oil. Add garlic and bacon chopped into ½ inch cubes and cook for a while. Add the black beans with the water they?re in (add more water if necessary). Simmer for 3 or 4 hours until not quite ready. Set to one side.
Next chop onions and garlic into another pan with olive oil. If you are using tinned beans, add the bacon at this point instead. Add all meat except sausages chopped into bite-sized pieces. Stir well. Add beans. Slice and add sausages. Don?t worry if it looks a bit watery ? this is good. Place in a large casserole pan and cook slowly for 2-3 hours in oven. Check now and then to make sure it doesn?t get too thick ? add water if needed. Do not add salt or pepper. At the last minute, if you want to thicken the sauce, take 2-3 spoonfuls of beans out, crush and return to pan. Repeat as many times as necessary. The feijoada should have a stew-like consistency.
Serve with white rice, peeled and chopped oranges (the tart flavour breaks up the fatty taste), cabbage and toasted manioc flour (the flour helps to soak up the sauce). Tabasco sauce goes well with the dish.
To cook the cabbage, slice crosswise and very, very thin (like noodles). Chop up spring onions, put in a pan with olive oil, stir cabbage in with chopped garlic. Keep stirring until cooked. This part is very quick ? around 3 minutes ? so do this right before serving.
WARNING FROM MY DAD: this dish is very soporific, especially when served with a few caipirinhas or some beer and shots of Brazilian cachaça. My mum and dad made it for their babysitting circle when they lived in the UK and an hour after lunch everyone was asleep?