With all of the World Cup excitement, I’ve been getting more and more curious about Brazilian flavors and Brazilian cooking. McCormick’s Flavor Forecast had already put the spotlight on Brazil’s dynamic cuisine and melting pot culture with their “Charmed by Brazil” trend, so when they offered to send me a selection of spices as inspiration to create a Brazilian-inspired recipe, it was just the nudge I needed.
I knew I wanted to add the zesty flavor of Bahian seasoning blend which is a staple in so many Brazilian recipes, and I decided to make a slow-cooked meaty stew which will be especially delicious in the cold winter months to come.
I used a combination of chorizo sausage, ham and beef cubes to make my stew. I heated and browned the meat, and I decided to slow cook the meal to make sure everything was really tender by dinnertime.
Black beans are a big part of this, so there are three cans. (Yes, I could have soaked dried beans and went that route, but I’m a lazy cook.)
I added some chopped onions and minced garlic along with some water.
Then it was time for the most important part: the seasoning. I made a Bahian seasoning blend by using red pepper, white pepper, oregano and ground cumin. This is the basic Bahian seasoning blend recipe, but feel free to adjust that to taste. (I did.)
Bahian Seasoning Blend
1/4 tsp McCormick red pepper
1/2 tsp McCormick ground white pepper
1 tsp McCormick oregano
1 tsp McCormick ground cumin
Then all that was left was to let the slow cooker do its thing all day.
Brazilian-Inspired Black Bean Stew
Ingredients
- ½ lb chorizo sausage thinly sliced
- ½ lb smoked ham diced
- 1 lb stew beef chopped in small cubes
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 15 oz cans black beans drained and rinsed (divided)
- 2 cups water divided
- ½ large onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 4 oz can chopped green chiles
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
Instructions
- Fry sausage and ham in olive oil over medium-high heat for about three minutes. Add stew beef and continue cooking until beef is browned. Transfer meat and drippings into slow cooker.
- Add one cup of water and two cans black beans.
- Blend remaining cup of water and third can of beans in food processor or blender until smooth.Add to slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients, and cook on low for at least six hours.
Nutrition
I served it with some traditional Brazilian cheese bread and the whole meal was delicious! Enjoy!
Tatanisha says
Yum, this looks seriously delicious to make and not too difficult! Beautifully photographed as well!
Jessica says
This looks like it has an explosion of flavors inside! Great meal for a rainy day. I love the chunks chorizo sausage.
Betty C says
Garlic is an old favorite and I’ve just started using more cilantro. #flavorstory
Lily Kwan says
I love spicy and garlic/onion flavors! #flavorstory
Candie L says
Our favorite seasoning is salt. Nothing exciting I know but it helps everything. Thank you
Leanne Godfrey says
Vanilla is meaningful to me because I use it a great deal in my baking. #flavorstory
Trisha McKee says
I love making pasta and experimenting with new flavors in dishes that are familiar. I love spicy and unique flavors
Miz Vickik says
I;m a big fan of cilantro. #flavorstory
Jennifer R says
My own flavor story involves McCormick Pickling Spices. My mom always used them to flavor up beef brisket and cabbage growing up. This was one of my favorite meals growing up. I now cook the same recipe for my family on occasion as well as using the Pickling Spices to flavor poached salmon.
Jennifer R says
My own flavor story involves McCormick Pickling Spices. My mom always used them to flavor up beef brisket and cabbage growing up. This was one of my favorite meals growing up. I now cook the same recipe for my family on occasion as well as using the Pickling Spices to flavor poached salmon. #flavorstory
Carissa Joslyn says
I’ve just started eating better for my family, and getting to know the spices, garlic powder is a awesome one I’ve found so far! make cheese wraps with it! my kids gobble them right up #flavorstory
tina reynolds says
I love garlic powder in pretty much everything #flavorstory
HilLesha says
I have never heard of this type of stew, but it absolutely looks delicious!
Roxann says
I make homemade spaghetti and a lot of other Italian dishes and I always use McCormick oregano. #flavorstory
Rebecca Lock says
Cinnamon and vanilla remind me of Christmas and baking cookies. #flavorstory.
Sarah L says
subscribe email: slehandwc at gmail dot com
Cori Westphal says
I’d have to say fried chicken is my #flavorstory! Southern fried chicken was the main dish at our wedding. That was 13 years ago. And every time I eat it, I think “Nope. Not as good as that day!”
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Nichole S says
#flavorstory Apples and cinnamon are my memory trigger flavors
they remind me of making homemade apple pie and applesauce with my grandmother
I can still taste the warm sauce when I think about it
Laurie Emerson says
Some of the food flavors which are meaningful to me are spices like Oregano and Rosemary. My grandmother always used these to make her beef stews as well as homemade spaghetti. When I make her recipes and smell these spices I always feel like I am a little girl again in her kitchen.#flavorstory
Michelle H. says
I love using rosemary in my chicken dishes. #flavorstory
Samantha says
We like to use some italian seasoning on our pizza and anything with red sauce. #flavorstory
Kelley Roach says
#flavorstory
i love spicy foods, it gives a kick while eating them
Dawn Monroe says
I remember that one of the first dinners I made for my husband was pepper steak. It has lots is black pepper, chili pepper and green peppers in it and he still likes it 20+ years later.
Erica B. says
I’m still trying to find my #flavorstory.
Helena says
#flavorstory I love oatmeal cookies. I grew up eating them. When I was a teenager, I made them for myself. They are my comfort food. I put in a lot of McCormick Vanilla to flavor them up! Thanks!
LaTanya says
We cook with a lot garlic powder and onion powder to help make food more flavorful #flavorstory.
Colette S says
#flavorstory I just got home from visiting the Caribbean and I’m in love with the real taste of all the Caribbean Spices.
Jessamine D. says
For me, we can’t live without plain salt and pepper. 🙂 We also use a lot of Basil leaves, chilli pepper flakes, soy sauce, vinegar, and fish sauce. #flavorstory
Roy F. says
#flavorstory My most meaningful food flavors are cinnamon, black pepper and salt. I like cinnamon on pies, cookies, waffles and eggnog. They go with just about anything.
paige chandler says
#flavorstory i love cinammon and apple flavors. It reminds me of fall at grandmas house
Laura DeLuca says
#flavorstory – I love using fresh basil with mozzarella and tomato and Balsamic vinegar for a refreshing summer sandwich.
Eileen Richter says
#flavorstory for cooking we have a LOT of italian and tomato based casseroles and pasta because that is what the kids love most. So garlic flavor is the biggest hit. Italian seasoning blend too, to kick it up without having to get a ton of each spice. Blends are SO nice. For baking it has to be all about the cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Pies, appledishes, pumpkin breads…that means home to me and the kids. It spreads memories from 3 to 4 generations. Everyone remembers the “grandma’s kitchen” smells and McCormick rules so much in our kitchen that way!
candy kratzer wenzel says
#flavorstory My favorite is cumin and smoked paprika. We just love those flavors on almost anything.
mysweetiepiepie says
#flavorstory My hubby’s from Italy so Italian flavors like basil and oregano are important to me, as is lots and lots of olive oil.
Corinna Perkes says
Looks very tasty!
Tara Liebing says
I love cooking and experimenting with different seasonings. I like to use cilantro in my mexican and asian dishes. I also use pepper, garlic powder/salt, onion powder, paprika and seasoning salt in a lot of my dishes. #flavorstory
Jammie says
#flavorstory I am currently on a liquid fast, but I am adding some cinnamon into my meal replacement shakes.
Yona says
A #flavorstory that I have is cilantro – I love this so much. It makes me think of my days living in La Casa, the Spanish-speaking house that I lived in college for three years. My roommate introduced me to cilantro in a salad, and I’ve been using it ever since. I just love the taste. Fresh is always better, but I will use dried.
Polly says
#flavorstory- always salt & pepper but love to spice it up with a tad of garlic salt to give it a good flavor
shelley b says
#flavorstory, I love cilantro. I love the scent and the flavor. If a restaurant puts cilantro in their salsa, I can’t stop eating it.
Katherine says
I am more of a sweet person than a savory not real good on flavoring my foods
Cindy Merrill says
Just thought I’d let you know, I made this stew! I didn’t have the green chilis,and I put in Cajun style Chicken sausages instead of Chorizo, and it still came out delicious.
Raijean says
This recipe sounds amazing, I may have to give it a try.
Diane Sallans says
#flavorstory – somethings call just for freshly ground salt & pepper, but I’m a big fan of basil too.
Leela says
I love making garlic bread with cheese. The best part is sauteing the minced garlic in real butter #flavorstory.
Janice Crespo says
#flavorstory I love a good ginger teriyaki seasoning – the two flavors really compliment each other nicely.
Susan Robbins says
I use Hungarian Paprika in almost everything because it reminds me of my mother’s cooking.
suzanne says
Curry, because my son and I used it often and we both loved it. Reminds me of my son. #flavorstory.
Kimberly Hilbert says
#flavorstory
We love different flavors, so often when we make something, like Chili, we’ll make the big batch, then pull out part to make it very hot or very garlicky. Spices are very important to us, but we all have different tastes in my house.
Karla G says
My German grandparents used to make a hard cookie for Christmas every year. So, anytime I use the same flavorings, cardamom and white pepper, it makes me think of their Pfeffernusse cookies!
Mimi says
Wow, that looks delicious! I’m not sure my boys would eat it, but I would for several days! lol
mary sampson says
#flavorstory…I love love love Spanish paprika!!!!!!!!!!! I use it just about everything I bake and fry with, it makes stews so yummy and I even throw it in my biscuits when I am making savory biscuits, I put it in cream cheese for some appetizers I make with green olives/black olives and caper berries…It gives everything a flavor that is out of this world…I would love to win this pkg of goodies..Enjoying your blog daily, ciao mary Sampson from maryjanesampson@outlook.com
Ann B. says
Opps forgot…. #flavorstory… I like to add Chipotle in adobo to my BBQ sauces. It gives it a nice kick and my family loves it.
Ann B. says
I like to add Chipotle in adobo to my BBQ sauces. It gives it a nice kick and my family loves it.
kelly nicholson says
#flavorstor i really like this stuff on me steaks and hamburger..thats about it..thanks
Maria B says
#myflavorstory I love cinnamon. I also found out that my Aunt loved Cinnamon too.
Kristen says
I really like combinations like sweet/salty or a little sweet with savory. #flavorstory
laura ari says
I like hot and spicy foods because they make you feel alive! #flavorstory
Lynn Dobriko says
Great prize.
gayle gildehaus says
#flavorstory I use alot of garlic in my cooking.I also like basil and oregano.
Amanda Price says
My #flavorstory would be cumin, garlic, onion, basil, oregano, paprika, and turmeric. These are the spices/herbs I use the most in my cooking. Food just wouldn’t be the same without them.
David Fultner says
I love summer fruit. This pic looks yummy.
David Fultner says
#flavorstory I love anything with curry.
Cindy Merrill says
The biscuits that are pictured with the stew look delicious- is the recipe on your site?
Christina Sparks says
#flavorstory I love to spice up all my recipes, I try different spices to add flavor and texture.
Darlene Carbajal says
my #flavorstory is that I like spicy foods!
Noreen says
My #flavorstory is cumin! I adore cumin in so many different dishes and currently my favorite spice
Tina W says
I love Mexican food so no food tale would be complete without cumin as part of my #flavorstory.
Joanne Gregory says
We love Tex-Mex at my house and would eat it every night if I could find time to fix it #flavorstory!
Mary Songer says
I love mexican spices. Cumin, coriander, and chili pepper.
Cynthia L. Gray says
I love rosemary on just about everything.
alena svetelska says
my #flavorstory me and my kids love love jamaican spicy food.
chickie brewer says
My #flavorstory is basil.. I use to be able to grow it all the time and it was so delicious adding it to my dishes!
Christy Anderson says
My #flavorstory is that we enjoy spicy foods at our house like Mexican and Cajun dishes.
Alona Y says
I have just started discovering all the amazing things you can do with slow cookers, and with using a variety of spices and seasonings! Still learning though. I do know that some spicy things get even spicier after sitting a few days in the fridge, so now I’m more careful with the creole seasoning. #flavorstory
Julie Murphy says
I like to use vanilla in almost everything sweet.
Helga says
The most meaningful flavors to me are cumin and curry powders because I love middle eastern food. #flavorstory.
Renee Walters says
I love to use brown sugar and garlic salt in everything! #flavorstory
Rita M says
Ground Cloves & Ground Cinnamon make up the majority of my #flavorstory – they are vital to my favorite comfort food – Bread Pudding!
heather says
I love celery salt in almost everything I just love it. I don’t do twitter so I hope my comment still counts.
Wendy Hark says
Cinnamon is meaningful to me because it reminds me of homemade apple pie that my Grandma made and homemade cinnamon rolls that my Mother made when I was a child. #flavorstory
Margot C says
I’m from New Orleans so the flavors of my home town are now famous the world over! #flavorstory
Chel Pay says
Vanilla has always been my most favorite flavor. I think it adds so much to everything I put it in. One time I used it in a chicken casserole and while unique it turned out great! #flavorstory
Alexis AKA MOM says
Oh wow that looks yummy!!!
Sharon Kaminski says
I like the thai flavors, especially thai basis with a coconut milk base.
Cynthia C says
My roots are from Italy and I love Mediterranean flavors, like garlic, oregano, basil and lemon. #flavorstory
Mary Beth Elderton says
My #flavorstory is all about TexMex–cumin, cilantro, chili powder, peppers
Cynthia R says
There’s this stew I make with sausage, beans, onions, tomatoes that is packed with awesome flavor by adding garlic, and basil, it’s one of my favorite recipes #flavorstory
Debra S says
#flavorstory Well, ever since I discovered Tumeric, I use it a lot. I really like it.. so I guess you would say I discovered Indian cuisine? I also sort of like curry, but oh so sparingly on any heat! But I sure discovered I love Tumeric. Isn’t it wonderful, we can have the world’s spices at our fingertips, right now? Think of it, Spice trade basically drove our modern world, didn’t it? It was what the world wanted, spices!
Jenny Q. says
I love making my mom’s lasagna or mac’n’cheese recipes. Makes me think of her! #flavorstory
Xty Cruz says
My favorite flavor would be a nice sour soup with tamarind and fish sauce #flavorstory.
saralynns2 says
So many good flavors to choose from when cooking… I choose garlic often, as well as cumin lately. #flavorstory
Sarah Jestings says
I grew up in south Louisiana so Cajun inspired flavors are really one of my staples. There is nothing like a home cooked Gumbo. #FlavorStory
kathy pease says
I love chinese food with my favorite flavor being sweet and sour sauce..I could put it on everything. At night while watching tv I always crave sweet and salty so I mix granola with honey roasted peanuts 🙂 #flavorstory
Cindy Merrill says
Rich smells and exotic flavors of the middle east are meaningful to me, #flavorstory.: I love Afghan food, which uses warm spices and herbs.
Sarah L says
I start with garlic and onions for most dishes. I like greek seasonings.
Thanks for the contest.
Teresa says
I keep a bottle of cloves in my kitchen cabinet just to open and smell. It is one of my favorite spice scents. #flavorstory
Tory says
I love mexican flavors – cumin and peppers especially #flavorstory
Anne says
Many years ago, I lived in the country, and I used to walk through the woods to the local cemetery. Much of the cemetery was carpeted with thyme rather than grass, and walking through there was delightful, as the thyme was crushed underfoot. I was a young cook then, and I learned at that early age how fresh herbs can enhance home cooked foods. To this day, I love the fragrance and flavor of fresh thyme. #flavorstory
Dana Rodriguez says
I love foods from all over the world.My fiance’ and I share cooking..I cook during the week and he does on weekends.I love when he gets creative with spices and rubs..it is always a treat! #flavorstory
Betty says
Military assignments to different countries, along with several regions of our own country was a fantastic opportunity to grow. Each stop introduced us to new flavors, new variations of the fave foods we grew up with.
Love cajun and carribean jerk flavors. #flavorstory
Rosey says
I can only imagine my husband would love this stew. We have good friends who lived in Brazil (in fact the wife was born and raised there), I wonder if they’d like this the next time they come to visit!
thuy vu says
I love savory flavors with asian themes, and I tend to use alot of lemongrass in my cooking. #flavorstory
thuy vu says
I love savory flavors with asian themes, and I tend to use alot of lemongrass in my cooking.
Sarah Hall says
#flavorstory I love using chili powder in a number of recipes. Something to give it a little kick.
Seyma Shabbir says
I love spicy food! Love to cook international dishes and my favorite dishes are Burmese Khow Suey and I love to make Italian Ricotta Cheesecake. #flavorstory
Faride says
I really like using spicy and tangy flavors when I cook. Some of my favorites are pepper, lime, orange, cloves, oregano, marjoram, and cayenne. #flavorstory
Stacy says
I became a vegan in July 2001. Before that I was a very picky eater. I grew up in an Italian household with a father who only ate steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, and spaghetti. I think my Mom’s spice cabinet consisted of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. It wasn’t until I became vegan that I actually started to try other cuisines, flavors, and food. Now my spice cabinet is overflowing with spices, from different curries to several varieties of salt and pepper, and one of my favorites, adobo. I think almost everything I cook now has adobo and cumin in it. That’s my #flavorstory.
Dorothy Teel says
#flavorstory. (What food flavors are meaningful to you?) I love spicy but not super hot foods, I love the taste of garlic and use it on roasts, chops, steaks and have been known to add to my spaghetti, I also love the taste of Nutmeg in my greens and it makes everything just a little better
Patricia says
Anything spicy is meaningful to me
Jenn says
My #FlavorStory: southern foods (chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, corn bread, etc.) are all very meaningful to me, simply because I grew up eating them at my grandparents’ house! 🙂
Jen Bigerton says
My best flavor combination is for vegetables. I use salt, pepper, lemon-pepper, garlic powder, and italian seasoning to roast vegetables in the oven. #flavorstory
georgie c says
My #flavorstory is when I cook I enjoy using parsley, cilantro, black pepper and oregano in many things I make even in mashed avocado.
Danielle Papsis says
I use salt, pepper, garlic and some of my favorite herbs and seasonings are rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, Worcestershire sauce, #flavorstory Everything has to have flavor even if it’s just black pepper.
Leigh Anne Borders says
I do nto have a real elaborate story. Only a simple one. I am not a cook so when I do cook, I have no idea what I am doing and using spices would be off limits. After awhile my family started telling me that things were bland. To me, it tasted fine but to them–no taste. So I began experimenting with adding in different spices. When I cook now, which is rare, they enjoy it. The one that cooks in my home, my husband and he is great at it. He knows just what to use and how much!
Alissa Apel says
We’ve used Garam Masala more and more lately. Travis #flavorstory our coffee with it. I used it in homemade almond milk. Then we use it for Indian dishes. OMG yumminess!
brian miller says
nice…always looking for new flavors…that blend sounds good…and this sounds like a hearty stew as well…will keep it on hand for autumn…
Nancy says
My #flavorstory is that of Hispanic cooking! I love onions, garlic, red pepper, powder and smoked paprika!
janetfaye says
#flavorstory I like the flavors of garlic, oregano, sweet basil, paprika and black pepper. in most of the food that I cook.
Stephanie Phelps says
My #flavorstory is sauteed butter and garlic with onions the aroma just fills the whole house when I am roasting these to put into my spaghetti sauce!
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
#Flavorstory Growing up in So Cal, the flavors I have really enjoyed are centered around Mexican food. Cilantro, chilies of different varieties and of course salsa on everything.
D Schmidt says
My #flavorstory is that I love to add herbs to our mashed and roasted potatoes, it actually seems to be the easiest way for our children to try new flavors.
Rebecca Parsons says
I love the flavor of herbs on chicken, first time I had herbs on chicken was at dinner and show place and it really made me want to experiment with different types of herbs.
Daphne Turner says
#flavorstory: I grew up in Vermont so I love the taste of pure Vermont maple syrup. I use it to flavor many things, including my stews.