"Southern" style beans

[liquiditynerd]

One thing I gotta say bout southern beans. Ain't no two pot o beans the same. We dont folla no recipe! Country style- what everyone is saying, water, beans, ham hock (or jowls)' salt, pepper, etc... Right now I think we have at least seven types, like y'all were saying, we eat beans 5 days a week. some add fruit jelly, sometimes I add mustard base, sometimes tomato, if I'm feeling honry it's Frannks hot sauce.

So..... Savannah style beans ( not really, I just made that up)

Pre soak beans (sometimes you'll think they're fermenting and you get crazy ideas)

Add a little beer to pot( usually the last one you opened last night and forgot, wine also works well, but not mead it's too important for cooking beans)
Sauté onions and garlic until tender (insert veggie here)
Fill pot with beer (cheap beer works well for this)
Add hocks, jowls or bacon (skip this for vegans) actually I stopped for health concerns ( I noticed my fellow southerners um girth)
Add a touch of cider vinegar
Spice to taste (salt if your MD/ND oks it) - turmeric works well here, or cumin as mentioned before, sometimes rosemary hits the spot
Simmer while drinking beer (and stirring the starch can really ruin a pot but that's another story)

Now who's up for greens And rutabagas?!!!!

 

[Airplanedoc]

Around here you first have to find the biggest cast iron kettle you can find (not a dutch oven, a kettle).
Then build a hardwood fire hickory works best
Hang or set the kettle in/over the fire

Something like this

Follow Subsailors Recipe above, Some people add some shredded carrot

Simmer all day

Serve with Cornbread

 

[Subsailor]

Follow Subsailors Recipe above, Some people add some shredded carrot

Simmer all day

Serve with Cornbread

I forgot that Mom sometime put shredded carrot in there.

 

[g-love]

Subsailor - that sounds amazing!

Love the family tie too!

 

[pnj]

I love beans!

I don't soak mine though, I just slow cook 'em all day. I don't refrigerate them when done either. The pan just sits on the stove for a few days until the beans are eaten.

My recipe is always changing but goes something like this.
beans
onions
jalapenos
salt/pepper
garlic
olive oil

 

[jeffjm]

Thank you all for giving me the idea for last night's dinner. Navy beans in the crockpot with bacon, onion, garlic, peppers, chicken stock, molasses, and my robust porter. Turned out great!

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Growing up with a Sicilian American grandma in the house (RIP) we were more likely to have a plate of lentils than beans . Made in a very very similar way to what you guys are refering to as southern beans... up to and including the ham bone.

Too bad my lady isnt big on lentils, I would make some right now!

Maybe when she goes to Kentucky Monday on business...

 

[TNGabe]

Growing up with a Sicilian American grandma in the house (RIP) we were more likely to have a plate of lentils than beans . Made in a very very similar way to what you guys are refering to as southern beans... up to and including the ham bone.

Too bad my lady isnt big on lentils, I would make some right now!

Maybe when she goes to Kentucky Monday on business...

We had lentils and kale for dinner, but with a fried egg on top I felt like less of a hippy.

 

[liquiditynerd]

Yea Swmbo is vegan and lil sis is a ND. Lots of hippy food. But, she did bring a pheasant home last night, that was a surprise when I opened the fridge.

 

[two_hearted]

It's on

I even poured in a beer to mix

 

[krackin]

My version of baked beans. Leftovers, if any, go into chili. Actually I plan it that way. If making chili I will make up a batch of these then make chili after these have set a couple of days to a week. They make a great bean sandwich too with bologna and mayo.

NH Baked Beans

1# Red Kidney Beans
1 1/2 Qt. Water
1/4# Salt Pork or Bacon
2 med. Onions Sliced
1 TB Dry Mustard
1/2 Cup Molasses
1/4-1/2 tsp Alspice
1/2 Cup Catsup

Put salt pork/bacon on bottom of pot. Top with onion. Add beans. Mix all other ingredients and pour over beans. Cook until done in crock pot or 325* oven in bean pot. Stir once in awhile, not too often.

 

[cheezydemon3]

My version of baked beans. Leftovers, if any, go into chili. Actually I plan it that way. If making chili I will make up a batch of these then make chili after these have set a couple of days to a week. They make a great bean sandwich too with bologna and mayo.

NH Baked Beans

1# Red Kidney Beans
1 1/2 Qt. Water
1/4# Salt Pork or Bacon
2 med. Onions Sliced
1 TB Dry Mustard
1/2 Cup Molasses
1/4-1/2 tsp Alspice
1/2 Cup Catsup

Put salt pork/bacon on bottom of pot. Top with onion. Add beans. Mix all other ingredients and pour over beans. Cook until done in crock pot or 325* oven in bean pot. Stir once in awhile, not too often.

Batten the hatches!!!!!!!

Gimelli (and a few other sincerely nice but opinionated fellows) will jump your case for suggesting beans in chili!

Gonna make some chili myself for my now week old beans!

 

[CreamyGoodness]

How long do you soak your beans? I've soaked them overnight only to get rubber beans in the past, and gave up. Perhaps its time to admit that I dont have all the culinary answers and listen to an actual southerner

 

[cheezydemon3]

How long do you soak your beans? I've soaked them overnight only to get rubber beans in the past, and gave up. Perhaps its time to admit that I dont have all the culinary answers and listen to an actual southerner

The million dollar question.

Pre soaking has 2 apparent advantages:

......(rubber beans?what??)

Less cooking time and therefore less energy bill, and if it is summer, less counter to the AC you are paying for.

Less stirring and breakup of beans as outside becomes cooked but the inside is still hard.

I have just boiled non soaked beans and had them turn out fine.

the difference is subtle if any.

One HUGE tip is to re-use the soak water. You MUST use the soak water.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

The million dollar question.

Pre soaking has 2 apparent advantages......(rubber beans?)

Less cooking time and therefore less energy bill, and if it is summer, less counter to the AC you are paying for.

Less stirring and breakup of beans as outside becomes cooked but the inside is still hard.

I have just boiled non soaked beans and had them turn out fine.

the difference is subtle if any.

One HUGE tip is to re-use the soak water. You MUST use the soak water.

Good points for sure, and points taken, but how much time do you dedicate to your soak?

 

[Homercidal]

Odd, I've read to toss the soak water and get fresh. It is supposed to reduce the amount of gas you produce, as well as acting as a final rinse for any dirt.

The soaking usually makes the beans take up a bunch of water, and it helps reduce the cooking time, but you still have to cook them through, which still does take some time, depending on the temperature.

I did about 8 hours on low in the crock pot and still have to turn it up and do high for a couple of hours. Next time I'd try 8 hours on high and see how it goes. My friend's family would just simmer them all day on the stove.

 

[Homercidal]

Good points for sure, and points taken, but how much time do you dedicate to your soak?

I just added plenty of water (like well over the top of the beans) and let them soak overnight in the fridge.

 

[krackin]

Batten the hatches!!!!!!!

Gimelli (and a few other sincerely nice but opinionated fellows) will jump your case for suggesting beans in chili!

Gonna make some chili myself for my now week old beans!

Oh that's OK. Every one knows that Texas chili ain't got no beans. LOL.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Good points for sure, and points taken, but how much time do you dedicate to your soak?

generally overnight, or about 8 hours.

I like the quick soak of: boil 2 minutes, remove from heat and cover for 2 hours.

Ready to go.

Do NOT throw out the soak water. It leaches lots of nutrients from the beans and if discarded, you get watered down beans.

 

[Whsoj]

Homercidal this may be "dead" I feel I should help you find those beans you ate as a child. I'm attaching a pic, let me know if this is the color of bean you are looking for I've read the thread and so far I didn't find where anybody mentioned the ingredient every body locally uses in my part of the south.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Well????????

what is the secret ingredient. If it some part of a pig, then it is old news

 

[Whsoj]

Of course it's old news but I haven't read where any body referenced it.
Fat Back and for the love of your eyes please don't Google it, just click the link, but you probably know about it cheesy, just being on the other side of the mountain and all.

Edit and good lord use hoe cake not corn bread