Feijão Tropeiro (Minas Gerais Beans with Bacon and Cassava Flour)
In short: Tender beans stir-fried with crisp bacon, smoked sausage, scrambled egg, collard greens and toasted cassava flour, a classic dish from Minas Gerais. It takes about 1 h 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 30 min
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 1 h 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 510 kcal
Feijão tropeiro is a staple of the buffets and family tables of Minas Gerais. Cooked beans are tossed in a pan with crisp bacon, smoked sausage, onion and garlic, then scrambled egg, shredded collard greens and toasted cassava flour are folded in. The flour soaks up the fat and juices and turns the mixture into a moist, savory, slightly crumbly dish. It is usually served with rice and pork.
Instructions
- Soak the beans in cold water for 8 hours or overnight. Drain, cover with fresh water, add the bay leaf and simmer for 50 to 60 minutes, until tender but still whole. Drain, saving 100 ml (1/3 cup) of the cooking liquid.
- Fry the bacon in a large, wide skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until crisp. Add the sausage and cook for 5 minutes until browned, then lift both out onto a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
- Cook the onion in the fat for 5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Push the onion to one side and crack the eggs into the pan. Scramble until fully set, about 2 minutes, then stir them into the onion.
- Add the beans, bacon and sausage. Stir for 3 to 4 minutes, adding a splash of the bean liquid if the pan looks dry.
- Add the collard greens and stir for 2 minutes, until wilted but still bright green.
- Sprinkle in the cassava flour a little at a time, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is moist but loose. Season, then fold in the spring onions and parsley. Serve hot.
Tips
- In a hurry, use 2 cans (about 400 g / 14 oz each) of drained, rinsed beans and skip the soaking and cooking.
- Kale is a good stand-in for collard greens. Cut it very fine so it cooks in 2 minutes.
Questions and answers
What do you serve with feijão tropeiro?
White rice, a pork cutlet or fried pork belly, and a tomato and onion salad. It is also a regular part of buffets in Minas Gerais.
Can I use canned beans?
Yes. Use 2 cans, drained and rinsed, and add a splash of water in place of the bean liquid. The dish then takes about 30 minutes.
Can I make feijão tropeiro ahead of time?
You can cook the beans 2 days ahead. The finished dish keeps for 3 days in the fridge and reheats well in a skillet with a splash of water.
How long does it take to make Feijão Tropeiro (Minas Gerais Beans with Bacon and Cassava Flour)?
About 1 h 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Feijão Tropeiro (Minas Gerais Beans with Bacon and Cassava Flour)?
About 510 kcal per serving, with 25 g of protein, 48 g of carbohydrates and 24 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 510 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 14 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 1400 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
