Authentic Brazilian Baião de Dois with Short Ribs

Baião de Dois with Beef Short Ribs is a rich, comforting dish packed with vibrant spices and hearty ingredients. This classic Brazilian favorite is the kind of soul-warming food that keeps everyone gathered around the table. Try this recipe and surprise your family—let’s get cooking!

Ingredients for Baião de Dois with Short Ribs

• 2 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
• 4 cups cooked beans (pinto or black beans)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp lard (or vegetable oil)
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 14 oz (400g) beef short ribs, cut into cubes
• Fresh parsley and scallions, to taste
• Brazilian spice blend (or a mix of cumin, paprika, and oregano), to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Annatto powder (colorau), to taste
• Water, as needed for cooking
• Pequi (optional, if available), to taste

How to make Baião de Dois with Short Ribs

1. In a pressure cooker, combine the beef ribs with 2 cloves of minced garlic, half of the onion, the chopped tomato, fresh herbs, Brazilian spice blend, salt, and annatto.
2. Cook on high pressure for about 60 minutes, or until the beef is fork-tender.
3. Once cooked, set the beef and the flavorful cooking liquid aside.
4. In a large pot, melt the lard over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 cloves of garlic and sauté until fragrant.
5. Add the rice, beans, and the cooked beef with half of the reserved cooking liquid to the pot.
6. Stir in the pequi (if using), adjust salt to taste, and mix everything well.
7. Add water to cover the mixture if necessary.
8. Simmer over medium heat until the rice is fully cooked to your preferred texture.
9. Turn off the heat, optionally top with mozzarella slices, and let it melt with the residual heat.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Pro-Tips:

To make your Baião de Dois even more authentic and indulgent, stir in cubes of Queijo Coalho (or halloumi as a substitute) and crispy bacon bits during the cooking process.

A Little Culinary Trivia:

Baião de Dois is a signature dish from Northeast Brazil. While many think it shares a name with the famous regional dance, the “baião” actually refers to the traditional musical instrument used to play the rhythmic folk music of the region. The “de dois” (of two) simply refers to the two main pillars of the dish: rice and beans.

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