Rice and Beans with Dried Beef (Baião de Dois com Carne Seca)

  • Total Time - 70 minutes
  • Prep Time - 20 minutes
  • Cook Time - 50 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Country: Brazil
A rich Baião de Dois with carne seca, rice, and beans, garnished with chopped scallions and cheese.

Baião de Dois is a dish that embodies northeastern Brazil. It combines two basic ingredients—rice and beans—and elevates them into a complex culinary experience. The preparation is simple, but the flavor is rich thanks to 'carne seca' and 'queijo coalho' cheese. If these ingredients are not available, you can use dried beef found in local stores and another semi-hard cheese. It is important to be mindful of the saltiness of the dish due to the 'carne seca'.

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 250 g carne seca (dried beef), rehydrated and cooked
  • 1 cup cooked beans (e.g., 'feijão fradinho' or other)
  • 1 cup rice, uncooked
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 0.5 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup 'queijo coalho' cheese cubes or similar cheese, cubed
  • 0.5 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
  • 1 to taste salt and black pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Meat and Beans

Soak the carne seca for several hours to remove the salt, then cook it until tender. Shred the meat into fibers and set it aside. Cook the beans in salted water and also set them aside.

Step 2: Preparing the Base

In a large pot or pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft. Add the garlic and bell pepper and sauté for another 2 minutes.

Step 3: Cooking the Rice

Add the rice to the pan and mix well with the vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the rice is almost done.

Step 4: Finishing and Serving

When the rice is almost cooked, add the cooked beans, shredded carne seca, and cheese cubes to the pot. Gently mix to combine the ingredients, and let it cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the cheese melts and the dish is heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley before serving.