Focus on food: May 03, 2010

Portuguese Style Beans

Ingredients:
1 lb. dried navy beans, washed and sorted
½ lb. bacon
1 lg. yellow onion, copped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups water
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 lb. chourico, sliced
1 t. pimento moida
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Soak the beans overnight after sorting in cold water to cover.
2. Drain the beans and set aside. In a large stock pot or dutch oven, sauté the bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.
3. Pour off the bacon fat reserving 2-3 T. of the bacon fat. Add the onion and sauté until golden brown. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to lose color.
4. Add the beans, water, tomato paste, chourico, and pimento moida. Cover and let simmer 1 ½ to 2 hours or until the beans are tender, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Crumble bacon into the beans and season with the salt and pepper. Cook ten minutes more and serve immedietly.