Frejon

Frejon (from feijão, the Portuguese word for "beans") is a coconut milk and bean soup traditionally eaten during Holy Week by some Christians, especially Catholics, in various parts of the world.

Geographic Popularity

Frejon is commonly consumed in:

• Brazil
• Nigeria, especially among the Yoruba who returned from Brazil after the abolition of the slave trade and settled in the Brazilian Quarters of Lagos Island
• Sierra Leone, where it is often served on Good Friday or at functions such as weddings

Religious and Cultural Context

Since dairy foods and flesh meat (such as beef, pork, and goat) are traditionally forbidden on Good Friday, Frejon serves as a fitting dish. It is typically served with:

• Fried fish
• Peppered snail
• Other non-dairy side dishes

Preparation in West Africa

In Nigeria and West Africa, Frejon is often made as a pudding using:

• Black beans, cooked slowly overnight over a wood or charcoal fire
• Coconut milk, mixed in to form a thick, sweet, and smooth pudding

Some versions are flavored with cocoa.

Frejon is typically served with:

• Fish stew
• Peppered snail
• Garri Ijebu

Other Variations

• Savory: Pepper, crayfish, salt, and tomatoes may be added to the mashed bean and coconut mixture
• Sweet: Sugar can be added for a dessert version
• Chilled: Frejon may be chilled until it hardens into a firm pudding
• Drinkable: It can be thinned into a drink, often served with biscuits

See Also

• List of African dishes(#)
• List of bean soups(#)
• List of soups(#)

References

• Frejon