Brazilian recipe

Arroz Carreteiro

Name: Arroz Carreteiro
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Brazilian cuisine
Ingredients: 450 g desalted dried beef, finely diced; 150 g thick-cut bacon, diced; 300 g smoked sausage, sliced; 300 g long-grain white rice, rinsed; 180 g yellow onion, finely chopped; 100 g carrot, small dice; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 30 g tomato paste; 750 ml unsalted beef stock; 2 bay leaves; 15 g parsley, chopped; 12 g fine salt, or to taste after the beef; 20 ml neutral oil, if needed

A one-pot gaucho rice dish in which desalted dried beef, bacon and smoked sausage season fluffy grains with onion, carrot and herbs.

Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

Prep: 45 min
Cook: 50 min
Total: 1 hr 35 min
Servings: 6

Arroz carreteiro with fluffy rice, dried beef, bacon, sausage and parsley — **Real finished-dish photograph**Photograph by Márcia Cristina MachadoSource page · Original file · CC BY-SA 4.0Cropped, resized, and compressed by Recipe Nest Vault.

Ingredients

450 g
desalted dried beef, finely diced
150 g
thick-cut bacon, diced
300 g
smoked sausage, sliced
300 g
long-grain white rice, rinsed
180 g
yellow onion, finely chopped
100 g
carrot, small dice
3
garlic cloves, minced
30 g
tomato paste
750 ml
unsalted beef stock
2
bay leaves
15 g
parsley, chopped
12 g
fine salt, or to taste after the beef
20 ml
neutral oil, if needed

Method

01
Desalt the beef
Cover the diced dried beef with cold water, boil for 10 minutes, drain and repeat 3 times. Drain well and taste a piece before adding salt later.
Cooking-step illustration, not a photograph
02
Brown the meats
Heat a heavy pot over medium heat. Cook the bacon for 5 minutes, add the sausage and dried beef, and cook for 5 minutes more until lightly browned.
Cooking-step illustration, not a photograph
03
Cook the aromatics
Add the onion, carrot and garlic and cook for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent. Stir in the tomato paste for 2 minutes.
Cooking-step illustration, not a photograph
04
Toast the rice
Add the rinsed rice and stir for 2 minutes so every grain is coated with the rendered fat and tomato base.
Cooking-step illustration, not a photograph
05
Simmer the rice
Pour in the stock, add the bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 18–20 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
Cooking-step illustration, not a photograph
06
Rest and adjust
Turn off the heat and rest covered for 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves, fluff with a fork, taste and add salt only if needed.
Cooking-step illustration, not a photograph
07
Finish with herbs
Fold in the chopped parsley and serve the rice hot from the pot, keeping the browned meats distributed through every portion.
Cooking-step illustration, not a photograph

Practical notes

Tips

Toast the rice briefly in the aromatic fat before adding liquid; separate grains absorb the meat and vegetable flavours more evenly.
Rest the covered pot off the heat so steam finishes the centre without making the bottom wet.

Common mistakes

Stirring after the liquid is added releases starch and makes the grains sticky.
Adding salty dried meat without tasting can push the whole pot past a pleasant seasoning level.

Substitutions

Short- or medium-grain rice works, but follow the same liquid ratio and adjust only after checking the texture.
Smoked sausage can replace part of dried beef, but reduce added salt because it is already seasoned.

Storage

Cool leftovers promptly and refrigerate within 2 hours at 0–4°C for up to 3 days. Reheat only the portion needed until piping hot throughout.

Cultural context

Arroz carreteiro is linked to the gaúcho foodways of Rio Grande do Sul and the practical use of shelf-stable charque with rice. Contemporary versions often include fresh beef, bacon or sausage.

Sources and photo credit

This standardized method was independently rewritten after cross-checking the references below. Recipe Nest Vault does not claim that the credited photographer cooked from this exact version.

Recipe references

Arroz de Carreteiro.jpg — Photograph by Márcia Cristina Machado; CC BY-SA 4.0.

Step illustrations: Original illustrations created by Recipe Nest Vault with OpenAI image_gen.

Back to Brazilian recipes

Arroz Carreteiro

Ingredients

Method

Desalt the beef

Brown the meats

Cook the aromatics

Toast the rice

Simmer the rice

Rest and adjust

Finish with herbs

Sources and photo credit

Recipe references

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