Minas Gerias is a state just north of Rio de Janeiro. Famed for the ubiquitous Pao de Quijou, Minas has a long history in the gastronomy of Brazil. Each town has a different dish, a unique flavour, a secret recipe.
Outside commentary of Brazilian cuisine is mostly reserved for the states of Bahia, the North East, Rio Grand do Sul, Amazonia, Rio, and SaoPaulo. However, Minas (as it is fondly referred) is widely favored among the locals as the best cuisine in Brazil. Its called culinaria de Maneira.
Here we uncover one of those recipes, from a little Ma and Pa restaurant in Carangola, 374 km outside of Belo Horizonte, the state capital of Minas.
Ingredients
- Pork Loin (about 2kgs
- 2 cups of your favourite beer (or wine if you prefer it)
- 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into rounds
- 2 tbsp of butter
- 100 grams of sugar
- Salt and pepper to season
- Garlic Marinade
- 2 medium sized onions peeled, and roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp of salt
- 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 100mls of olive oil
Method
- Liquefy all the ingredients to make the garlic marinade.
- In a roasting tray, baste the rolled pork loin in the marinade.
- Pour the beer over the top.
- Cover with cling film and refridgerate for two days.
- Remove from the refidgerator, and reserve the excess marinade and beer mix.
- Roast in the oven at 180C for about 40 minutes.
- Baste from time to time with beer and garlic marinade.
- Remove from the oven, wrap the pork loin in aluminium foil, and set aside to rest.
- Meanwhile, boil the sweet potatoes until cooked through.
- Drain, and allow to cool.
- Melt the butter in a large frying pan.
- Add the sugar, and sweet potato rounds.
- Over a moderate heat, lightly saute for 5 to 7 minutes, and set aside.
- Remove the pork loin from the aluminium, and gently pour the pork juices over the kale.
- Place the pork on an oven proof baking dish.
- Baste with beer mix.
- Surround with sweet potato rounds.
- Cook at 200C until golden.
- Remove, rest for 3 minutes, slice and serve
Sides
Sliced oranges add a nice colour contrast.
Couve (kale) lightly fried in butter, chopped bacon and garlic, adds an interesting bitter, salt flavour.
And for dessert.
Well, you may have heard of Romeo and Juliet before, but did you know it is the name given to perhaps the most famous dessert in Brazil? Romeo and Juliet is quite simply Minas Queijo (a ricotta like soft white cheese) served with guava paste.
Fruit pastes are very popular in Brazil. With a wide variey of exotic fruit to choose from, it's no surprise. Easy to make, and especially good with a light soft white cheese.
As Guavas are not readily available we thought you might like to try this easy recipe for a sweet banana paste.
Utensils
- Fork
- Wooden spoon
- Copper based pot (if you have one)
Ingredients
- 2 kg's of bananas
- 900 grams of brown sugar
- Juice and zest of 3 limes
Method
- Peel and mash bananas.
- Mix ingredients together.
- Cook over a very low heat, for approximately 45 minutes hour, until the banana forms a thick brown paste.
- Remembering to stir with a wooden spoon.
- Refridgerate and serve chilled with your favourite soft white cheese.
- Garnish with a spring of mint
Bom apetite.
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