Angolan Bean Soup (Caldo de Feijão): A Warm Hug in a Bowl

Angolan bean soup is unique for its red kidney beans. The best dinner you can have is a hot pot filled with chicken, pork, beef, spices, and vegetables. 

The soup, locally called Feijão or Feijoada, meaning beans in Portuguese, originated from Angola but is popular in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, East Timor, Mozambique, and Macau. The popularity among these countries is due to their common language.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare this timeless Angolan bean soup.

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How to Prepare Angolan Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cans red kidney beans: red kidney beans are an excellent source of protein and essential nutrients such as folate, iron, copper, and vitamin K. 
• 1 cup chickpeas: rich in protein and fiber, which helps digestion of the Angolan bean soup. 
• 6 large tomatoes: contain vitamin C, which improves your skin’s health.
• A handful of spring greens: Spring greens are packed with nutrients and are great for your health. Besides being rich in vitamin C, they are also rich in vitamin K. In addition to supporting the immune system, vitamin K helps keep bones healthy.
• 2 large onions, chopped: They have high fiber, helping digestion smoothly. They also contain vitamins and minerals that help in regulating blood sugar levels.
• 3 medium carrots, chopped: Carrots are good for your eyes. They are rich in vitamins B, B6, and C, which regulate healthy gums, skin, and teeth.
• 3 Chorizos: add taste to the Angolan bean soup.
• 1 kg Chicken, cubed: rich in protein; however, it’s low in cholesterol and fat, making it healthy to add to your diet.
• ½ kg Pork, cubed: has low fat content, but it’s rich in protein.
• 4 cloves Garlic: a spice that is healthy for your heart.
• 3” Ginger: helps in digestion and gut health. It also treats nausea and reduces the risk of cancer. Using ginger in seasoning eliminates the smell that accompanies fresh protein. 
• 5 tbsp Olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp hot pepper, optional

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Instructions

1. Put the oil to boil on medium heat and sauté the chopped onions.
2. Add the fresh tomatoes. You use canned tomatoes if you don’t have fresh ones. Stir fry and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Then add the chicken and pork. Add salt to taste, ginger, and garlic. Cover the pot and allow it to boil for 20 minutes. 
4. Once the chicken and pork are well cooked, add the carrots and chorizos. Stir and cover the pot again to cook for 5 minutes. 
5. Add your red kidney beans to the pot, including the chickpeas. Add 2 cups of hot water and allow the Angolan bean soup to cook for another 5 minutes.
6. Chop and add the spring greens at this point and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add the hot pepper, optional. 
8. Allow the bean soup to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. 

Tips for Preparing Angolan Bean Soup

• You can use your choice of protein. Some people use beef or chicken alone.
• For added taste, spice the chicken and allow it to marinate for 30 minutes or more.
• Sometimes, canned foods lose their original taste. In this respect, buy, soak, and cook your red kidney beans. This could take 45 minutes to an hour to cook, but it’s worth it.
• Use garbage if you can’t find or have spring greens.
• Drop in spices such as thyme and bay leaves.
• For a vegetarian recipe, avoid the chicken or meat and add more vegetables of your choice.
• In some homes, you can incorporate rice or pasta into the Angolan bean soup. 

Conclusion

In this season of Christmas and holiday where you’re likely to host family and friends, add Angolan bean soup to the recipes you’ll be preparing to welcome your guests into something new and unique.

Let me know how your cooking went in the comment below.