Brazilian Style Beans & Rice with Pork Kielbasa

MAKING THE BEANS:

Step 1: Soak the beans in water overnight or for 3 hours. Drain and rinse the beans.

Confession: If I am making the beans in an electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot), I usually skip soaking the beans. 😆

Step 2: Place the beans in a pot and add enough water to cover them by 2". Add the bay leaves and cook over medium-high heat on the stove for 60 minutes, or until the beans are soft. If using an InstantPot close and seal the lid and press the Bean/Chili button.

Step 3: When the beans are soft, place half of them in a separate bowl and mash them. This helps thicken the dish. Add the rest of the beans to the bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the liquid left after cooking the beans.

Step 4: Slice the Pork Kielbasa into bite-sized pieces unless you prefer to remove it from the casing and cook the ground meat.

Step 5: Press the saute button on the Instant Pot or heat the pot over medium-high heat and add 1 Tbsp. avocado oil. Saute the onions, garlic, kielbasa, and spices for 4-5 minutes.

Step 6:  Return the beans to the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes. If the bean mixture is too thick, add some of the bean liquid 1/4 cup at a time as needed. If you don't have any liquid or not enough, chicken stock is a good substitute.

MAKING THE RICE

While the beans are cooking, make the rice.

Step 1: Rinse the rice in a fine sieve under cold water until the water runs clear.

Step 2:  Press the saute button on the Instant Pot or heat a separate pot over medium-high heat and add 1 Tbsp. avocado oil. Saute the onions and garlic for 2-3 minutes then add the rice and salt, and saute for another 3-4 minutes. Add a couple of tablespoons of water and deglaze the bottom of the pot. 

Step 3: If cooking the rice in the Instant Pot, add the remaining 2 1/4 cups of water to the pot and stir. Then close and seal the IP lid and press the rice button. 

If cooking the rice on the stovetop, add the remaining 3 cups of water to the pot and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the water is absorbed and rice is tender. 

Step 4: When the rice is done cooking open the pot and fluff the rice with a fork. 

Step 5: Serve the beans and kielbasa over rice. 

Recipe made by Victoria Cook:

Victoria is a passionate home cook who evolved into the host and chef of over 100 episodes of a private cooking show tailored for wellness practitioners and their patients. With a love for ethnic cuisines, she enjoys using a variety of spices and fresh ingredients to create flavorful, healthy meals for her husband and son. Always up for a culinary challenge, Victoria finds joy in experimenting with new recipes—and if she can whip them up in an electric pressure cooker, she’s even happier.