Portuguese Beans

Savor the hearty, comforting flavors of Portuguese Beans, a rustic dish brimming with rich, smoky aromas and robust spices. This traditional recipe combines tender white beans with slices of chouriço or linguiça sausage, simmered slowly in a flavorful tomato-based broth enhanced with paprika, cumin, and garlic. The addition of olive oil, bay leaves, and a touch of red pepper flakes creates a harmonious balance of warmth and depth, perfect for cozy dinners or family gatherings. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley for a vibrant finish, and serve alongside crusty bread or fluffy rice to soak up every irresistible bite. Packed with protein and bursting with Mediterranean appeal, this one-pot meal is a timeless classic that's as easy to prepare as it is satisfying.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:110 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound Dried white beans (Navy beans or Cannellini beans)
• 12 ounces Chouriço or linguiça sausage (or smoked sausage)
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 Medium onion, diced
• 4 Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 1 cup Tomato sauce
• 4 cups Chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 0.25 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the dried beans under cold water and soak them in a large bowl of water overnight, or for at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse before cooking.

Step 2

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chouriço or linguiça sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage and set aside.

Step 3

In the same pot, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the tomato paste to the pot and stir well, letting it cook for 1-2 minutes to develop its flavor. Then, pour in the tomato sauce and chicken or vegetable stock. Stir to combine.

Step 5

Add the soaked beans, bay leaves, paprika, cumin, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper to the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 6

After the beans have cooked for about an hour and are tender, return the browned sausage to the pot. Stir well and let it simmer with the beans for another 15-20 minutes to meld the flavors.

Step 7

Remove the bay leaves before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 8

Serve warm, garnished with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired, alongside crusty bread or rice.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2201.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3034.7

Total Fat 126.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 38.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 200.1mg	0%
Sodium 9367.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 321.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 77.0g	0%
Total Sugars 29.6g
Protein 161.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 900.8mg	0%
Iron 33.9mg	0%
Potassium 8700.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.0%

Protein: 21.1%

Carbs: 41.9%