As a child, I loved food. I would always be pointed out for my large appetite and that's not something I've ever been ashamed to say. 

 

 

Food is something that brings people together. I grew up in a big family, so our meal times were always hectic, but memorable. My great grandmother was from Portugal and she spoke very little English. Anytime I would have anything on my plate, she would say eat, eat, eat, you are too skinny. And so I did. 

 

 

 

One of my favourite family recipes I have come to love is cherise, a Portuguese-derived dish, almost like a chili, some would say. It is a tasty and quick recipe made up of only a few ingredients. 

 

 

There are many different ways to change up the dish if you are looking for more vegetables or other nutrients, but to make this beginner friendly recipe, you will need the following: 

 

1 whole onion 

1 garlic clove 

1 cup of macaroni (or whichever you prefer)

1 can of kidney beans

1 package of chorizo (Portuguese smoked sausage)

 

1 can of whole tomatoes 

1 chicken bouillon cube 

1 tsp of hot sauce 

4 tsp of pimento sauce (or to your liking)

½ can of tomato paste 

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Firstly, you will need to chop your onion and mince your garlic into fine pieces. Combine those into a pot on low heat and add in your pimento sauce. Let that simmer until fragrant. 

 

Then you will add your bouillon cube, along with one cup of water. 

 

Next, you will add your tomatoes and let that cook on low heat until soft for about two hours. 

 

Be sure to stir your pot a few times to make sure nothing sticks. 

 

After that. you will need to add your kidney beans, chorizo, and pasta. (Note: if your pasta is cooked beforehand, it won't hold as much flavour)

 

Then finally, you will add your ½ can of tomato paste as well as two more cups of water (depending on the thickness, you can add extra cups of water to reach your desired consistency). 

 

Lastly add in your salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste. Let that sit until all the flavours are combined and enjoy. 

 

 

I enjoy this dish best served hot with some fresh bread and butter. This dish can be enjoyed anytime of the year, but is best on colder days when you need a hearty comfort meal.