Brazilian Beef Escondidinho with Cassava and Minas Cheese Mash, Black-Eyed Peas, and Herb Butter

Name: Brazilian Beef Escondidinho with Cassava and Minas Cheese Mash, Black-Eyed Peas, and Herb Butter
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Brasileña
Ingredients: 2 lb cassava, peeled and cut into chunks; 1 3/4 tsp salt; 3 tbsp butter; 3/4 cup milk; 6 oz Minas cheese, grated; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 1/4 cups white onion, chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 cup red bell pepper, diced; 1 1/2 lb ground beef; 2 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp black pepper; 1 1/2 cups ripe tomato, diced; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/3 cup green olives, chopped; 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped; 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas; 3 tbsp chives, chopped

An original Brazilian layered bake: sautéed beef with tomato, bell pepper, and olives, topped with silky cassava and Minas cheese mash, baked until golden and finished with warm black-eyed peas and herb butter.

30 minPrep

45 minCook

75 minTotal

6Servings

Gluten-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

900 g cassava, peeled and cut into chunks (for the puree)
10 g salt (or to taste, divided)
45 g butter (divided)
180 ml milk (tibia)
180 g Minas cheese, grated (divided)
30 ml olive oil
180 g white onion, chopped
12 g garlic, minced
140 g red bell pepper, diced
700 g ground beef
4 g sweet paprika
2 g ground cumin
2 g black pepper (or to taste)
250 g ripe tomato, diced
30 g tomato paste
60 g green olives, chopped
20 g cilantro, chopped (divided)
300 g cooked black-eyed peas (escurrido)
12 g chives, chopped

Nutrition facts

per serving

612 kcal

Calories

31 g

Protein

34 g

Carbs

39 g

Fat

6 g

Fiber

28 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Dairy

Instructions

1
1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Lightly grease a medium baking dish with a little of the butter or olive oil.
2
2. Place the cassava in a large pot, cover with water, and add half of the salt. Cook over medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes, until very tender. Drain, remove any tough inner fibers, and mash while still hot.
3
3. Mix the mashed cassava with the warm milk, 30 g (2 tbsp) of the butter, and 120 g (4 oz) of the Minas cheese. Adjust with a little salt and keep the mash warm.
4
4. While the cassava cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red bell pepper and sauté 2 minutes more.
5
5. Add the ground beef and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up well, until no pink remains. Season with sweet paprika, cumin, black pepper, and a pinch of salt.
6
6. Add the diced tomato, tomato paste, and green olives. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the filling is juicy but not watery. Stir in half of the chopped cilantro and remove from the heat.
7
7. Spread the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cover evenly with the cassava mash and finish with the remaining 60 g (2 oz) Minas cheese on top.
8
8. Bake for 15 minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F, until fully heated through. For more color, broil for 2 to 3 additional minutes, watching closely.
9
9. Meanwhile, warm the black-eyed peas in a small saucepan with the remaining 15 g (1 tbsp) butter, the chives, and the rest of the cilantro for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring gently. Adjust salt.
10
10. Serve the escondidinho hot, topping each portion with a spoonful of the herbed butter black-eyed peas.

Chef tips

For a smoother mash, pass the cassava through a ricer before mixing with the milk and cheese. Make sure the beef filling is not watery so the layers stay defined when served.

Substitutions

You can substitute Minas cheese with low-moisture mozzarella or a firm fresh cheese. Black-eyed peas can be replaced with cooked white beans, though the flavor will be less traditional.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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