What does comfort food mean to you? Does it bring back childhood memories or family favorites? Comfort food evokes so many memories within us and to me nothing means comfort more than Feijoada Portuguese Bean Stew. It brings me back to Portugal in my grandmother’s kitchen where she could be found stirring my favorite Portuguese recipes day after day. One of my favorites, a recipe that was often saved for Sunday Supper meals was Feijoada Portuguese Bean Stew. Although there are no sign of potatoes, this Portuguese Recipe is hearty and truly feeds the soul. This was a meal that you couldn’t wait to sit down around the family table to enjoy. The best part about it, you can use that leftover ham from the holidays to make this tasty stew.
I am so excited to feature Lee Woodruff and her latest book, Those We Love Most around the family table this week. This book is about family, love, tragedy, coming together and healing. In short, it holds a reflection of all of our lives. We would love to have you join Lee and our Sunday Supper Team during our chat on Sunday at 7pm Eastern Time. Wait till you see the comfort food recipes our talented Sunday Supper Contributors will be featuring. Something tells me, not only will we be surrounded by love and comfort, we will all be drooling. Just look at the gorgeous recipes! If that wasn’t enough, we will also be giving away 5 signed copies of Those We Love Most, all you have to do is share your most memorable comfort food recipes.

- 2 pounds white beans or black eyed peas
- 1 ham hock
- 1 pound ham chunks
- 2 carrots, sliced into rounds
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 head garlic, peeled but otherwise whole
- 1 tablespoon piri-piri
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander seed
- 4 bay leaves
- ½ cup crushed tomatoes
- Black pepper and chopped parsley to garnish
- Salt
- 2 quarts chicken broth
- Soak beans for at least 8 hours. If you don’t have 8 hours, soak repeatedly in the hottest water you can get from the tap, replacing it when it cools.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, gently brown ham.
- When the ham is brown, add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the coriander, bay leaves and a healthy sprinkling of salt, then add the beans and mix it all together.
- Cover by 1 inch with chicken broth.
- Bring to a boil.
- Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for approximately 90 minutes.
- Remove from oven and test the beans. If they are still rocks, return to the oven for another 20 minutes.
- If the beans are getting tender, add the carrots, garlic cloves, chile paste and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
- Remove and, still covered, leave the pot on top of the stove for up to 20 minutes, although you can serve immediately.
- Ladle into bowls, garnish with chopped parsley and black pepper, and serve with crusty bread.
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This Week’s Sunday Supper Recipes:
#SundaySupper Comfort Food |Soups
- Cream of Broccoli Cheese Soup by Damn Delicious
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup by Supper for a Steal
- Kalbi Tang or Korean Short Rib Soup by Kimchi MOM
- Korean mandoo (dumpling) soup by Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
- Chicken Noodle Soup by My Catholic Kitchen
- Thai’d up chicken noodle soup by I Run For Wine
- Ditalini Italian Soup by Mangiamo!
- Spicy Black Bean Soup by Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Chicken Chowder by Pippis in the Kitchen Again
#SundaySupper Comfort Food | Main Dish
- Sausage Gravy and Biscuits by Big Bears Wife
- Comforting Down-Home Shrimp and Grits by The Weekend Gourmet
- Pumpkin Alfredo Tortellini Bake by The Meltaways
- Old Fashioned Mac and Cheese by Flour on My Face
- Lasagna Roll Ups by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Green Plantain Hash by Basic n Delicious
- Venison Chili by The Messy Baker Blog
- Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells by That Skinny Chick can Bake
- Winter Chicken Stew by Mrs. Mama Hen
- Quinoa, Spinach, and Kale Lasagna by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Baked Oysters and Apples by Pescetarian Journal
- Individual Chicken Pot Pies by Noshing With The Nolands
- Kaesespaetzle {Baked Cheese Spaetzle} by Galactosemia in PDX
- Jalapeno and Bacon Mac N’ Cheese by Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Quiche aux Champignons {Mushroom Quiche} by An Appealing Plan
- Mini Mac n Cheese Cups with Pork Shoulder Ragù by Hip Foodie Mom
- Chicken a la King by Girlichef
- Creamy Chicken & Dumplings by La Cocina de Leslie
- Spaghetti Squash Gratins by She likes ruffles, he likes truffles
- Creamy Chicken Enchiladas by Home Cooking Memories
- Savory Slow-Cooked Pork Stew by Daddy Knows Less
- Chicken Roasted with White Wine and Garlic by Webicurean
- Shepherd’s Pie by Small Wallet Big Appetite
- One Skillet Pumpkin Lasagna by The Realistic Nutritionist
- Chicken “Pot Pie” by Diabetic Foodie
- Gluten Free Cornish Pasty by Maroc Mama
- Warm Oven Baked Samosas Stuffed With Sweet Potato & Peas by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Caramelized Onion-Challah Stuffing Muffins by Comfy Cuisine
- Comforting Mashed Potatoes by Momma’s Meals
- Chunky Chili Beans by Mama Mommy Mom
- Rustic Cauliflower and Tomato Gratin by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Feijoada Portuguese Bean Stew by Family Foodie
#SundaySupper Comfort Food | Desserts
- Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy by Juanita’s Cocina
- Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream by Cravings of a Lunatic
- Sour Cream Pound Cake by Mom’s Test Kitchen
- Chocolate Layer Cake by Magnolia Days
- Cinnamon Rice Pudding by Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Smores Hot Cocoa by Chocolate Moosey
- Sweet Red Bean Pie by What Smells So Good
- Pistachio Cake Cookies by The Cookie A Day Challenge
- Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake by No One Likes Crumbly Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Caramel Brownies by Daily Dish Recipes
- Nutella Shortbread Bars by Baker Street
Pairing Wine with Sunday Supper Comfort Food Favorites! by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
We would be honored to have you join us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper and have you share your favorite Comfort Food Recipes. We’ll be meeting up at 7:00 pm(Eastern) for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat where we’ll talk about our favorite Comfort Food Recipes. All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat. We’d also love to feature your easy go to recipes on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board and share them







baker street
October 14, 2012 at 1:47 amLeftovers sometimes make for the best meals and i absolutely love the idea of using ham chunks here! Great recipe, Isabel. A bowl would be just perfect to tuck into at the end of a long day.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
October 14, 2012 at 6:06 amI think I only had feijoada once in Brazil, but it´s such a well known word here. And using the leftovers is just a bonus! Have a great Sunday Isabel!
Renee
October 14, 2012 at 6:51 amI absolutely love bean soups and stews. I cannot wait to try your Portuguese recipe. It does sound like pure comfort in a bowl.
Liz
October 14, 2012 at 8:46 amMmmmmm….recipes passed down through the generation are the epitome of comfort foods! What a fantastic stew! Thanks for hosting yet another wonderful #Sunday Supper!!!
Hezzi-D
October 14, 2012 at 8:58 amThis sounds warm, inviting, and delicious!
Tammi @ Momma's Meals
October 14, 2012 at 9:03 amI love anything with beans on it!! So comforting just thinking about it. Happy #SS!!
Alex
October 14, 2012 at 9:23 amAnd the weather in Portugal (at least here up north) has been screaming for feijoada. 🙂
Heather @girlichef
October 14, 2012 at 9:36 amMmmm…this sounds like a warming bowl of comfort all the way! I know it would be perfect for a raining day like we’re having today.
Jen @JuanitasCocina
October 14, 2012 at 9:41 amYes please! We make a similar dish during the cooler weather, but I want yours NOW!
Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom)
October 14, 2012 at 10:48 amThank you for sharing your grandmother’s recipe. I’m definitely going to try this recipe. And I just so happen to have a piri-piri sauce created here in New Jersey!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
October 14, 2012 at 11:30 amThis is exactly what I’m in the mood to eat today. I just love this. Pinning it to my board to make sure I make this pronto. I love recipes that cross the generations to us today.
Carla
October 14, 2012 at 11:37 amOh my parents would def love this stew! I don’t do a whole lot of bean stews, so maybe I will try this one 🙂
Pam @ The Meltaways
October 14, 2012 at 12:03 pmThis stew is right up our family’s alley – I totally need to make this! Now, to find the piri-piri around here…..
Bea
October 14, 2012 at 12:42 pmYour bean stew looks fantastic!!! I cannot wait to try it this fall or winter – it sure looks like it will also be a hit around our family table 🙂
veronica gantley
October 14, 2012 at 1:31 pmIt is so nice to have grandmas old recipes. I think stews like ths are better the second day.
Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet)
October 14, 2012 at 2:15 pmThis looks so comforting…and not terribly different from the pinto beans my Mom would often cook on Sundays for our dinner. She used bacon in place of ham…and served it with hot homemade cornbread!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
October 14, 2012 at 3:20 pmWhat a hearty and comforting stew. Love that food holds so many memories for people, what a great one from your family.
diabeticFoodie
October 14, 2012 at 4:57 pmSaving this one for New Year’s since it has black-eyed peas! Looks warm and comforting – perfect for today’s theme.
Megan - I Run For Wine
October 14, 2012 at 5:05 pmYummy! Love this recipe!! My Nanny was half Portuguese and half Swedish. I have a few of her Swedish recipes but not many Portuguese. I am always looking for recipes from my heritage. Thanks for sharing!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal
October 14, 2012 at 5:08 pmI love black eyed peas! I usually don’t come across to many recipes with them. I bet I could adapt this to the crock pot easily. Will have to give it a shot this winter!
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories)
October 14, 2012 at 5:48 pmSounds so good…would be perfect for a cold day!
Kathia Rodriguez
October 14, 2012 at 6:21 pmI love feijoada, great for sharing with the family, and ad the end take a nap… 😀
Jennie @themessybakerblog
October 14, 2012 at 6:44 pmIsabel, this dish looks like the ultimate comfort food. I adore bean stew and can’t wait to try your version. Pinned. Happy #SundaySupper!
Kim Bee
October 14, 2012 at 6:45 pmIsabel this looks wonderful. I just want to show up on your doorstep with a bowl and a spoon.
Tara
October 14, 2012 at 6:45 pmA very hearty and comforting stew. Thank you for sharing your grandmother’s recipe!!
Katie
October 14, 2012 at 6:56 pmThis dish looks incredible, with delicious flavor! I definitely want to try a bowl…
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
October 14, 2012 at 8:16 pmThat’s a gorgeous, hearty, comforting bowl of stew there, Isabel! Looks delicious. I love how this stew is tied to wonderful memories of your grandmother cooking for you and your family. This is another fantastic Sunday Supper!
Martin D. Redmond
October 14, 2012 at 11:03 pmThis recipe looks great! It would also be good with Vinho Verde from Portugal of course. I’m a big believer that the foods of a place goes well with the wines of a place!
Jennifer B
October 15, 2012 at 12:22 amI don’t think I’ve ever made a Portuguese recipe before so I’ll definitely have to try…especially since I’m pretty obsessed with black eyes peas! Mmm!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
October 15, 2012 at 1:38 amI love that you shared your grandmother’s recipe! 🙂 and this Portuguese Bean Stew looks amazing!
Laura Hunter
October 15, 2012 at 7:47 amThis sounds so good, I have some black eyed peas that I need to use up so I might make this with it. Although I might substitute chorizo for the ham hock. 🙂
Stephanie Zielinski
October 15, 2012 at 10:53 amYour stew looks delicious! For me, comfort food = family memories, thanks for sharing your story about your grandma’s kitchen!
Crazy Kwistin
October 15, 2012 at 8:36 pmYou always have such beautiful unique recipes! Love it 🙂
Angie @ Big Bear's Wife
October 16, 2012 at 4:24 pmThat looks wonderful! It would be perfect for a cold fall night!
Cindys Recipes and Writings
October 17, 2012 at 6:18 amHam and black-eyed peas sounds soooo goooood, Isabel!
Faye Leong
October 17, 2012 at 8:46 amThank you for sharing us your grandmother’s recipe…the beans looks delicious!
sunithi
October 17, 2012 at 8:30 pmLove all the ingredients in this esp the beans 🙂 Yummmm ! Looks so wholesome. Will be making this !
Patti
October 18, 2012 at 10:13 amYumm Isabel! There is nothing better than Grandma’s cooking!
Sarah
October 18, 2012 at 10:26 amIsable I had to google what piri piri was. The stew does in fact sound so very comforting with ham hocks and black eyed peas. I often think of my grandmother too when I think of comfort dishes.
Anne @ Webicurean
October 28, 2012 at 2:48 pmI’m way behind on my SS reading! This recipe is super timely for me–I have a ham shank and some ham looking for a recipe. If I quick soak the beans, I can make this tonight!
Anne @ Webicurean
October 29, 2012 at 11:02 pmJust wanted to let you know I ended up making this today for dinner, and we loved it! The only thing I did differently is that I used 1 lb beans instead of 2, since I like it when the beans are a bit brothy. I left all the other measurements the same… delish!