Here’s Why Brazilian Feijoada Needs to Be on Your Wedding Menu

Want to add something tasty to your wedding menu that can be eaten all year round? Then give the national Brazilian dish, feijoada, a try. It's a black bean stew with simple ingredients that's packed with savory flavors. But if you don't know what feijoada is and want to know more about it, you've come to the right place. We spoke with a food expert who gave us the inside scoop on the fare's pronunciation, history, origin and the important traditions surrounding it. And it gets better—instead of sitting at home wondering what the food tastes like and how you can have it at your wedding, we included an easy-to-follow feijoada recipe and guidance on where to buy some (for our non-cooks out there).

In this article:

What Is Feijoada? | History | How to Find Feijoada | Recipe | How to Incorporate Feijoada Into Your Day

What Is Feijoada?

Feijoada is a traditional Brazilian stew made of mostly black beans and pork and is typically served with "white rice, collard greens sauteed in garlic and olive oil, orange slices and the delicious toasted cassava flour (or farofa, in Portuguese)," Cassiano Fabris, food expert and Owner of Brazilian Bowl Fresh Grill, says. Feijoada is considered Brazil's national dish, which is why you can find it at every gathering and special occasion.

Feijoada Pronunciation

For those wondering how to pronounce feijoada, it's pretty simple. Say [fey-jwah-ah-dah] slowly, and you'll have the pronunciation down in no time. As a bonus, Fabris gives us the 411 on the term's etymology. "The word 'feijoada' is of Portuguese origin, as the dish has its roots in Portuguese cuisine. The term 'feijoada' is derived from the Portuguese word 'feijão,' which means 'beans.'"

Feijoada History

Many curious culinarians ponder, "Is feijoada Brazilian or Portuguese?" The answer is yes to both because there are two different versions of the stew. Keep reading to learn why and how Brazilian feijoada and feijoada á Portuguesa both exist.

Feijoada Origin

"The dish had its roots in Portuguese cuisine. In Portugal, feijoada was a simple bean stew typically made with white beans and various meats, often using leftover or less expensive cuts. The Portuguese brought this dish and their culinary traditions to Brazil during colonization," Fabris says. Once in Brazil, the food slowly changed into Brazil's version because of the African enslaved population's influence. New additions like black beans and pork cuts, different cooking techniques and seasonings made the dish what it's known as today.

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Feijoada Tradition

"Just like Taco Tuesdays, feijoada has its days. Feijoada is typically found on all Brazilian family tables every Saturday, except for the state of Rio de Janeiro, where typically feijoada is a dish served on Wednesdays," Fabris remarks. The reason for this tradition is that the black bean stew is considered a heavy comfort food best enjoyed with family on the weekend or friends during a long lunch period. Simply put, this dish requires you to sit back, relax and savor its delicious flavors as much as possible.

How to Find Feijoadas Near You

Feijoada Brazilian food can be found in any authentic Brazilian restaurant in the world. Fabris says many Brazilian steakhouses have feijoada at their buffets and that at his restaurant, Brazilian Bowl Fresh Grill, feijoada is a signature dish and best seller. You can also look on The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find caterers in your area so you can have heavenly feijoada for your wedding day.

Feijoada Recipe

"Feijoada-making is a great bonding activity for couples, as it takes quite a long time to cook, and couples can enjoy a nice bottle of wine while listening and dancing to Brazilian samba and forro. Furthermore, this is a dish for the family and friends, so they can show off their skills by inviting and impressing their guests with their culinary abilities," Fabris explains. So if you want to know how to make a feijoada dinner, keep reading to see the comprehensive and scrumptious recipe Fabris gave us.

Feijoada Ingredients

• 2 cups of black beans, dried
• 1 lb (450g) of pork shoulder, cut into chunks
• 1/2 lb (225g) of smoked sausage (linguiça), sliced into rounds
• 1/2 lb (225g) of pork ribs
• 1/2 lb (225g) of pork belly or bacon, cut into chunks
• 1/2 lb (225g) of smoked sausage (calabresa), sliced into rounds
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

If you would like to make farofa to go with your Brazilian Feijoada, these are the ingredients you'll need:

• 1 cup manioc (cassava) flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

How to Make Feijoada

Now it's time to make the best Brazilian feijoada. Follow these easy steps to get started.

1. Rinse the dried black beans and soak them in water overnight.
2. Drain and rinse the soaked beans.
3. In a large, heavy pot, combine the drained black beans with enough water to cover them by about 2 inches.
4. Add the pork shoulder, pork ribs, smoked sausage, pork belly or bacon and bay leaves to the pot.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
6. Cook the feijoada for two to three hours or until the beans and meats are tender. Add more water as needed to keep everything covered.
7. In a separate pan, sauté the minced garlic and chopped onions until they're soft and translucent.
8. Add the sautéed onions and garlic to the feijoada. Stir well.
9. Season the feijoada with salt and black pepper to taste.

Prepare the Farofa:

1. In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Add the manioc flour and minced garlic. Sauté the mixture until it's lightly browned.
3. Season with salt and black pepper, then serve with the feijoada.

How to Incorporate Feijoada Into Your Day

It doesn't matter if you grew up with it or just discovered feijoada through this article, anyone can have the mouthwatering stew on their special day. If there's no room on your wedding to-do list to cook the meal from scratch, we suggest you find a caterer that specializes in Brazilian cuisine so you can get the most authentic dish possible. Fabris advises you to serve white rice, collard greens sauteed with garlic and orange slices as sides.