On the braising liquid:
Traditionally it is served with orange wedges on the side. I never totally understood what to do with them, so instead I add the zest to my stew in order to add some brightness to the stew itself. I have also heard that this dish is traditionally pork only, but I love the flavor you get by combining beef and pork. Custom Culinary’s Beef Base makes this relatively easy to make dish feel like it’s been made with a stock that took days to cook, reduce etc. It adds depth and richness that tastes like I used a home made demi glace instead of just water.
On the meat:
As I said, I love combining beef and pork for this. The linguiça or longaniza is crucial and to, feels like the defining protein. But that aside, you can truly add whatever you have on hand. Beef or pork chuck minced would work, beef short rib could be luxurious, really the options are endless. The Mexican Chorizo is not traditional at all, but I was making this once and couldn’t get my hands on any linguiça or longaniza. I ended up using a kielbasa to emulate the texture of the sausages and chorizo to lend some of the delicious spices and heat. Now, I can’t seem to quit the flavor of the chorizo and I just keep using it.
On the Farofa:
You will likely need to source the flour from a Brazilian market. Its totally worth it. I just keep a bag in my freezer so that I can keep it for a long time and always have some on hand. In a pinch you could use plain breadcrumbs, but it will definitely have a different flavor.