A while back, I was lucky enough to be gifted with Mimi Jardim’s cookbook “My Portuguese feast.”

I was never tempted to attempt one the recipes from the cookbook as we are not huge Portugese food eating people. To tell you the truth, I don’t think I ever tasted Portuguese food before. I remember way back in the day when Nando’s was new to South Africa, they were said to be Portuguese but I doubt that can be said today.

 My dad was away on business most of the past week and he arrived back a day earlier than expected and caught me off guard. When he phoned from the airport asking me what was I making, he was starving I had zero to no idea what to cook.

When I opened the fridge I saw a pack of pre-cut chorizo sausage and then it hit me, that I should make this. It was quick easy and really all it required me to do was throw everything in the pot, cover and cook till all the water was cooked away and the rice was soft. In the hour it took for him to drive from the airport home. Supper was made and just in time, before load shedding kicked in.

The dish was surprisingly delicious and the hint of paprika after each bite was perfect, not to over powering and not too strong. My dad on the other hand kept complaining and enquiring how come I made so much rice, I mean the recipe did say 500g x rice, what was I supposed to do? Seeing as this was my first time I attempted to make it. Next time, I will of course, adjust accordingly.

Ingredients:

• 4 x 400g tins of Sugar beans, drained and rinsed.
• 10ml x olive oil.
• 100x chorizo, sliced.
• 1 x bay leaf.
• 2 x whole cloves of garlic, slightly crushed.
• 1 x onion, finely chopped.
• 10ml x paprika.
• 1 x tomatoe, finely chopped.
• 1L x boiling water.
• 500ml x raw rice.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Method:

• Heat oil in a pot.
• Add onions, chorizo, bay leaf, garlic, tomatoe and paprika.
• Give it a good stir and allow to cook till the onions are soft.
• Add the rice, salt and pepper and mix.
• Add boiling water and mix.
• Cover and simmer on a medium heat fill the rice is almost soft.
• Add the beans and mix so that the beans are nicely incorporated.