Arroz de Carreteiro (Southern Brazilian Beef and Rice)
In short: A one-pot rice from southern Brazil cooked with salted dried beef, smoked sausage, bacon, tomato and pepper until moist and deeply savory. It takes about 1 h 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 20 min
- Resting
- 12 h
- Total
- 1 h 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 465 kcal
Arroz de carreteiro is the everyday one-pot rice of Rio Grande do Sul and the Brazilian South. Salted dried beef, called charque, is soaked and boiled, then browned with bacon, sausage, onion, pepper and tomato before the rice goes in. It cooks until moist and slightly creamy, deeply savory and smoky. Serve it with a simple salad or a fried egg for a complete meal.
Instructions
- Soak the dried beef in cold water for 12 hours, changing the water 3 or 4 times. Boil in fresh water for 30 minutes until tender, drain and cut into 2 cm (3/4 in) cubes.
- Fry the bacon in a large heavy pot over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the oil, beef and sausage and brown for 8 minutes, stirring now and then.
- Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes and cook for 4 minutes until soft.
- Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes so the grains pick up the flavors.
- Pour in the hot water, add the bay leaves and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, until the rice is tender and the pot is moist but not soupy.
- Rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves, fold in the spring onions, parsley and pepper, and serve hot.
Tips
- Taste before adding any salt. The dried beef, bacon and sausage are all salty, and the rice often needs none.
- No charque? Use rinsed corned beef or leftover cooked roast beef in cubes, and skip the soaking and boiling.
Questions and answers
What is charque?
Charque is salted, dried beef used in southern and northeastern Brazil. It is similar to carne seca and must be soaked and boiled before cooking to remove the salt.
Can I make arroz de carreteiro with fresh beef?
Yes. Brown 400 g (14 oz) of diced beef chuck, simmer it in 300 ml of water for 40 minutes until tender, then continue with the recipe. The flavor will be milder.
What do you serve with arroz de carreteiro?
A green salad, sautéed collard greens, a fried egg or a tomato and onion vinagrete. It is also good with farofa on the side.
How long does it take to make Arroz de Carreteiro (Southern Brazilian Beef and Rice)?
About 1 h 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Arroz de Carreteiro (Southern Brazilian Beef and Rice)?
About 465 kcal per serving, with 26 g of protein, 42 g of carbohydrates and 21 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 465 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 1500 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
