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Cape Verdean Cachupa

Yields8 ServingsPrep Time30 minsCook Time3 hrsTotal Time3 hrs 30 mins

A hearty stew of hominy, beans, vegetables, pork, and linguiça. 

Ingredients
 2 dried hominy or canjica, soaked overnight
 1 cup dried red kidney beans, soaked overnight
 1 cup dried lima or cranberry beans, soaked overnight
 1 bone-in pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
 8 linguiƧa or chouriƧo, sliced
 2 olive oil
 1 yellow onion, diced
 4 garlic, minced
 2 bay leaves
 1 smoked paprika
 ½ ground black pepper
 8 water or low-sodium stock, plus more as needed
 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
 1 green cabbage, roughly chopped
 2 carrots, sliced
 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
 1 fine salt, plus more to taste
Directions
1

Drain and rinse the soaked hominy and beans separately; discard the soaking water.

2

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown the pork in batches, then brown the linguiƧa. Transfer both to a plate.

3

Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, bay leaves, smoked paprika, and black pepper for 30 seconds.

4

Return the pork to the pot. Add the hominy, beans, and water or stock. Bring to a boil, skim any foam, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover partially and cook for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

5

Add the tomatoes, sweet potato, and carrots. Simmer for 30 minutes, adding a little hot water if needed.

6

Stir in the cabbage and browned linguiƧa. Continue simmering for 20 to 25 minutes, until the grains, beans, meat, and vegetables are tender.

7

Remove the bay leaves. Season with salt and adjust the consistency: cachupa should be thick and spoonable but not dry.

8

Rest the stew for 10 minutes before serving warm. Offer piri-piri sauce at the table if desired.

Notes

Cachupa varies across Cape Verde, this filling one-pot dish is traditionally adapted from island to island and household to household. This meat-rich version is often called cachupa rica. Soak the hominy and beans overnight for even cooking. Add hot water during cooking if the stew becomes too thick before the grains are tender. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days; the flavor deepens overnight.

Nutrition Facts

8 servings

Serving size

1 1/2 cups


Amount per serving
Calories540
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 19g25%

Saturated Fat 6g30%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 65mg22%
Sodium 720mg32%
Total Carbohydrate 67g25%

Dietary Fiber 14g50%
Total Sugars 8g
Includes 0g Added Sugars0%
Protein 28g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.