Slow Cooker Black Beans Brazilian Style Food

FEIJOADA

Steps:

• The day before you plan on cooking the feijoada, trim the excess fat of all the meats (except the bacon) and place them in a large bowl. Cover with cold water and refrigerate for 24 hours, changing the water 3-4 times, to get rid of the excess salt.
• Place the black beans in a separate bowl and cover with cold water. Let them soak overnight in the fridge.
• Drain the meat and beans. Place the soaked meat in a large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot and cover with enough water so they're all submerged. Cook, over medium-high heat, until boiling. Let them boil for 20 minutes, adding more water as needed. Drain and reserve.
• Combine the boiled carne seca, beans, bay leaves and orange in that same pot. Pour 2.5 quarts cold water and cook, over medium-high heat, until boiling. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, add the sausages. Cover and continue simmering, occasionally skimming the fat that rises to the top, until the meat is tender, about 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Remove the orange and bay leaves. Discard. Remove the meat and sausage and slice into smaller pieces. Reserve.
• Heat the oil in a sauté pan, over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until no longer raw but not yet golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add a ladleful of the cooked beans, without liquid, and stir to combine. Using a fork, mash the beans, to release their starch.
• Pour that mixture into the feijoada pot and cook over medium heat, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until thickened. If too thick, add more water as needed. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Return the meats back to the pot.
• Serve with white rice, collard greens, fried bananas, farofa, vinaigrette salsa and orange slices!

SLOW COOKER FEIJOADA (BRAZILIAN BLACK BEAN STEW) RECIPE

Steps:

• Coarsely chop the onions and tomato and set aside. Mince the garlic.
• Place the bacon in a heavy skillet and cook over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
• Add chorizo to the same skillet and brown. Remove from heat and slice crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces. Return slices to pan and brown them, then drain on paper towels.
• In the same skillet, brown the ribs on all sides. Remove ribs and set aside.
• Add the chopped onion and garlic to the skillet and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent and starting to brown. Add the tomato and cook for several minutes more. Using a slotted spoon, transfer onions and tomato mixture to the ceramic bowl of a slow cooker. Add sliced chorizo. Chop the cooked bacon and add to the pot, along with the ribs.
• Add the beans, 1 and 1/2 cups of beef broth, the ham hock, and the cumin to the pot.
• Cook mixture in the crockpot on the low setting for 6 to 8 hours, until the rib meat is tender and falling off the bone. Taste for seasoning and season with salt and pepper. Add lime juice if desired. Serve over Brazilian-style rice with orange wedges on the side.

SLOW COOKER BLACK BEANS [BRAZILIAN STYLE]

Steps:

• Sort, wash, then soak the beans in cold water for 30 mins. Remove any floating beans.
• Change the water, and soak in cold water for another 30 mins.
• Drain beans, then add them to a slow cooker. Add the sausages, the bay leaf and 5 1/2 cups of hot water.
• Close the slow cooker, and cook on high for 3 hours.
• After 3 hours, open the pan, and leave it on high, while you move to the next steps.
• Season with salt and pepper, add the cumin, and the vinegar to the pan, and stir.
• Meanwhile, add the bacon to a large skillet over medium to high heat, and let them cook until lightly browned.
• Add the olive oil to the skillet, then the onions and sautée until the onions are transparent, 2-3 mins.
• Add the garlic to the skillet, stir and sautée until fragrant and lightly golden.
• Add the contents of the skillet into the beans, stir and cover again. Let it cook until desired thickness is reached - about 30 minutes to an hour.

SLOW-COOKER BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups water, the beans, chicken broth, vinegar, onion, bell pepper, garlic, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until the beans are tender, about 8 hours.
• Discard the bay leaf. Working in small batches, puree about half of the soup in a blender. Stir the pureed soup back into the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook the chorizo in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Top each serving of soup with the chorizo and toppings.

BLACK BEAN & MEAT STEW - FEIJOADA

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy-based saucepan with a fitted lid, add the bacon and fry until crisp. Remove and keep the oil in the pan. In batches sear the ribs, sausages and pork shoulder. Season each batch with salt and pepper.
• Remove the meat and set aside. Add the onion, garlic and chilli to the pan. Pour in a little olive oil if it needs more. Season with salt and pepper and fry for 8 mins or until soft.
• Add the meat, bay leaves, white wine vinegar and drained beans. Cover with just enough water to cover, about 650ml. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 2 hrs, or until the beans are soft and the meat is tender. If there is too much liquid in the pot take the lid off in the last hr. You can also use a slow cooker on the short method (4 hr) or make a quick version using a pressure cooker in batches for 30 mins each. Another method is to cook it in the oven for 3-4 hrs at 160C/140C fan/gas 3.
• Serve with rice, a sprinkle of parsley or coriander, hot pepper sauce and orange slices.

SLOW-COOKER BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a 5- to 8-quart slow cooker, combine the beans, onion, garlic, chipotle chile and sauce, cumin, bay leaves and/or oregano, and baking soda, if using. Add 6 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low until the beans are tender, 8 to 10 hours. Taste more than one bean to ensure they're all cooked through; they should also flatten without much effort when pressed between your fingers.
• Remove and compost the bay leaves. Transfer the onion, garlic and chipotle chile to a blender or food processor, along with about 2 cups of the beans and broth. (You can purée more or less of the soup, depending on desired consistency.) Blend until smooth. Pour puréed soup back into the slow cooker, stir in the vinegar, then season to taste with salt. Eat with desired toppings.