Feijoada-Inspired Black Bean and Sausage Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

A hearty Brazilian black bean stew with smoky sausage, slow-simmered with aromatic spices for deep, comforting flavors. This brazilian-inspired beef ready in about 130 minutes pairs dried black beans, water, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups dried black beans
• 6 cups water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 12 oz smoked sausage (such as kielbasa), sliced
• 4 oz, diced bacon
• 1 large, diced yellow onion
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 strip orange peel (fresh, no white pith)
• 1/4 cup chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 1/2 cups dried black beans and soak them in water for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 4 oz diced bacon and cook for 5 minutes until crisp.
3. Step 3: Add 12 oz sliced smoked sausage and 1 large diced yellow onion, sautéing for 6-7 minutes until onions are translucent and sausage browns.
4. Step 4: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp smoked paprika, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Add the soaked beans, 6 cups water, 2 bay leaves, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 strip of fresh orange peel to the pot.
6. Step 6: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 1.5 to 2 hours until beans are tender and stew has thickened, stirring occasionally.
7. Step 7: Remove the orange peel and bay leaves, adjust seasoning if necessary, and garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving with white rice and collard greens for an authentic Brazilian meal.