Portuguese Baked Beans & Sweet Cornbread
Oh, the flavors in this dish!! Linguica isn't found up here in northern Michigan, so I used hot chorizo instead. Please, please hunt linguica if you can, otherwise you can sub a good quality, savory sausage for this recipe. My diet doesn't include 90% of most meats, but I did taste this before serving. My mouth was quite pleased with the results, and I encourage you to delve into the culture behind this creation and play with the spices you find. I also made a sweet cornbread to go alongside this, because I'm a Southern woman, and...beans!!! Would I be absolutely tickled if you added jalapenos, and/or cheddar cheese to said cornbread? Maybe... Wash your paws, and let's go!
Servings: 3 yield(s)
Prep Time: 12 mins
Cook Time: 315 mins
Total Time: 327 mins
Ingredients
  • cup Pinto beans
  • 1 lb linguica, chorizo, or your substitute sausage
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp wine vinegar
  • 7 1/2 floz tomato sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste
    • Sweet Cornbread
  • 1 1/4 cup bread flour (Sifted)
  • 3/4 cup corn meal
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup avocado or light olive oil
  • 1 egg (Beaten)
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar ((Optional))
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños ((Optional))
Instructions
  1. Wash beans.
  2. Place beans in oven-safe pot and cover with water, plus 4 extra cups.
  3. Cook for 1 hour, or until beans begin to get soft.
  4. Fry sausage, garlic, and onion until golden brown.
  5. Add spices, salt, pepper and tomato sauce.
  6. Cook 15 minutes.
  7. Pour over pre-cooked beans, adding sugar, vinegar, and more salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Stir, cover, and bake 3-4 hours at 350°.
    9. Sweet Cornbread
  9. Pre-heat oven to 400°, and have a warm, piled cast iron skillet standing by.
  10. Sift dry ingredients together.
  11. Mix wet ingredients together.
  12. Mix wet into dry, careful to mix to combine, only. (Fold in optional ingredients here).
  13. Pour into prepared skillet, shaking the skillet gently to settle and distribute batter evenly.
  14. Bake 24-27 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
  15. Butter top layer once done, cut and serve with baled beans.