Traditional soups beans use very basic ingredients such as water, beans, pork fat, salt and pepper. My recipe gets a little “fancier” with onion and garlic added in. It’s the simplicity of this dish that is so delicious. The garnishments added to your individual bowl of soup beans such as onions and chow chow are what add a little acidity and spicy zip.
Place dried pinto beans in a colander and rinse under cold water. Pick through and discard any shriveled beans or stones. Pour the beans into a large bowl and fill with enough cold water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Let the beans soak for several hours or overnight. By the next day, the beans will have doubled in sized by absorbing most of the water. Drain the beans and rinse.
In a 6 quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add chopped bacon and let partially cook for a few minutes on each side. Remove the bacon strips and set aside on a plate. Next add chopped onion to the Dutch oven and saute for a few minutes in the bacon grease until softened, add in the garlic and cayenne (or jalapeno) and saute for an additional 30 seconds until aromatic. Pour in about a cup of chicken stock and use a spatula to scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
To the Dutch oven, add in the pinto beans, ham hock, onion mixture, and bacon. Pour in the remaining chicken stock and add enough water to make sure the beans are covered by 2 inches of liquid. Stir everything together. Let the bean mixture start to come to a boil and then turn the heat down to medium-low to let simmer. Partially cover the pot with a lid leaving some air space.
Serve up in bowls and garnish with chopped raw onions or chow-chow. Enjoy with a side of corn bread to sop up the delicious pot likker.
The flavor is even better the next day when reheated and the beans soften and thicken even more resembling a mountain chili.
Storage: Soup beans can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to one week.
Place dried pinto beans in a colander and rinse under cold water. Pick through and discard any shriveled beans or stones. Pour the beans into a large bowl and fill with enough cold water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Let the beans soak for several hours or overnight. By the next day, the beans will have doubled in sized by absorbing most of the water. Drain the beans and rinse.
In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add chopped bacon and let partially cook for a few minutes on each side. Remove the bacon strips and set aside on a plate. Next add chopped onion to the skillet and saute for a few minutes in the bacon grease until softened, add in the garlic and cayenne (or jalapeno) and saute for an additional 30 seconds until aromatic. Pour in about a cup of chicken stock and use a spatula to scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
To the Slow cooker, add in the pinto beans, ham hock, onion mixture, and bacon. Pour in the remaining chicken stock and add enough water to make sure the beans are covered by 2 inches of liquid. Stir everything together. Cook on high heat for 4-5 hours or low heat for 8-10 hours until the beans are tender.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve up in bowls and garnish with chopped raw onions or chow-chow. Enjoy with a side of corn bread to sop up the delicious pot likker.
Place dried pinto beans in a colander and rinse under cold water. Pick through and discard any shriveled beans or stones.
Turn the Instant pot on to saute mode, high heat setting. add chopped bacon and let partially cook for a few minutes on each side. Remove the bacon strips and set aside on a plate. Next add chopped onion to the skillet and saute for a few minutes in the bacon grease until softened, add in the garlic and cayenne (or jalapeno) and saute for an additional 30 seconds until aromatic. Pour in about a cup of chicken stock and use a spatula to scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
To the Instant Pot, add in the pinto beans with the onion mixture, ham hock, and bacon. Pour in the remaining chicken stock and add enough water to make sure the beans are covered by 2 inches of liquid. Stir everything together. Cover with the lid and seal. Make sure the pressure valve is set to closed. Press the Manual/Pressure Cook button, at high pressure setting. Set the time to 50 minutes. After the cooking time has completed, let the pressure naturally release for at least 20 minutes. Open the lid and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve up in bowls and garnish with chopped raw onions or chow-chow. Enjoy with a side of corn bread to sop up the delicious pot likker.
The flavor is even better the next day when reheated and the beans soften and thicken even more resembling a mountain chili.
Appalachian Soup Beans Recipe (aka Pinto Bean Soup) https://whatscookingamerica.net/soup/appalachian-soupbeans.htm