Authentic Portuguese Bean Soup Food

PORTUGUESE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• First, make the ham hock stock: put the ham hocks in a large pot with 2.5 quarts of water. Bring the water to a boil, then turn the heat down to low. Put on a lid on top, and let cook on low for 1.5 hours.
• Remove the ham hocks to a cutting board and let cool. Once cooled, cut off the meat and skin from the bone. Dice the meat and skin into small pieces and set aside.
• Skim the fat off the top of the ham hock stock. Bring the stock back to a boil and add in the cans of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
• Bring the soup back to a boil, and add the diced ham hocks back in. Then add the diced onions, carrots, and potatoes.
• Bring the soup back up to a boil, and add in the kidney beans, Portuguese sausage, cabbage, and macaroni noodles.
• Let the soup cook on medium-low heat for another 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and lots of pepper. Enjoy!

PUNAHOU PORTUGUESE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Boil ham hocks or ham bone in 2 quarts of water until tender (save stock). Cut meat from the bones.
• Bring ham stock to a boil and add the cut meat and all the remaining ingredients except the cabbage.
• Simmer for 1 - 2 hours, stirring frequently.
• If too thick, add a little water.
• Add the cabbage, cook another hour until tender.
• Add more salt and pepper if needed.

VEGAN BLACK BEAN AND SWEET POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes.
• Make a space in the middle of the pot and add the tomato paste, garlic, smoked paprika and coriander. Cook this mixture in that spot, stirring, until the tomato paste darkens a shade or two, about 1 minute, then stir into the vegetables. Add 12 cups water and the bay leaves. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Add the sweet potatoes and black beans. Continue to simmer rapidly until the vegetables are very tender and the soup is thick and flavorful. 20 to 30 minutes more. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Stir in the parsley. Season with additional salt, as needed. Ladle into soup bowls and serve with a drizzle of olive oil and 3 to 4 drops of sherry vinegar per bowl if using.

PORTUGUESE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place ham hock, linguica, onion, and water into a Dutch oven over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove meat from ham hock, chop, and return to soup. Stir in potatoes, celery, carrots, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and garlic. Cover, and continue simmering for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in cabbage and kidney beans, cook until the cabbage has softened, about 10 minutes.

PORTUGUESE SAUSAGE AND BEAN STEW

Steps:

• If using dried beans, add the beans to a large bowl, cover by 2 inches with cold water and let soak for at least 8 hours, or overnight. Drain and set aside. If using canned beans, drain and rinse.
• Add the bacon, if using, to a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and cook until browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon and set aside. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the fat and return the skillet to the stovetop. Add the sausage and cook until browned. With a slotted spoon, remove the sausage to a bowl and reserve.
• Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the skillet and return to the stove over medium heat. When the fat shimmers, add the onion and garlic, stir to coat in fat, and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the potatoes and stir to coat in the tomato paste. Add the beans, chorizo, and all remaining ingredients, except the bacon, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the flavors have melded and the dried beans are cooked through, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Crumble the bacon into beans, and season with additional salt, if needed. Remove the bay leaf, transfer the beans to a serving bowl and serve.

PORTUGUESE STONE SOUP

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in large pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until soup is thick, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.)

AZORE-STYLE FEIJOS (BEANS)

Steps:

• *NOTE: Can also substitute sausage for the bacon or ham hock. Portuguese linguica, Spanish chorizo or Louisiana andouille, vegetarian "soyrizo", etc. are suggestions. My preference being bacon as I don't care for sausage or ham hock.
• For additional flavor, I usually dry roast the spices in a castiron skillet.
• Soak the beans overnight. Cook the bacon or ham hock and drain on paper towel. Next saute the onion and garlic. Once cooled, break up the bacon into little pieces.
• In large Dutch oven or in crock pot, combine all the ingredients, including the water, excluding the salt. If using a Dutch oven, simmer the beans on medium-low for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are soft.
• If using a crock pot simmer on low 8 hours or until beans are soft. Salt the beans once cooked.
• Adjust seasoning before serving. Now season with salt.
• Remove whole cloves, cinnamon stick and whole allspice.
• Great with freshly baked, crusty bread. Tastes even better if prepared one day ahead then warmed.

GRANDMA'S PORTUGUESE SOUP

Steps:

• Place beans in a large pot and cover with water. Soak 8 hours to overnight.
• Drain and rinse beans and return them to the pot. Add ham hocks and onion. Add enough water to cover ham hocks. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until beans are tender, 1 to 2 hours.
• Remove ham hocks from soup and separate the meat from the bones. Return meat to the pot and discard bones. Add sausage, cabbage, potato, and tomato sauce to the pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until cabbage is softened, 30 to 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

EASY PORTUGUESE-STYLE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the first 20 ingredients in a 7-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 7-9 hours or until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves and orange and lemon zest strips., Transfer 4 cups soup to a blender; cool slightly. Cover; process until smooth. Return to slow cooker; add green onions, cilantro and parsley. Heat through., Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth if necessary.