Appalachian Soup Beans Recipe Aka Pinto Bean Soup

APPALACHIAN SOUP BEANS RECIPE (AKA PINTO BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• 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. Note: It is recommended to not add salt at the beginning stages of cooking beans or it will take longer for the beans to soften up. Wait till the last part of cooking beans when they start to feel softened to add the salt.
• 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. This will ensure the beans result in a creamy texture. Let the beans simmer for 45 minutes while stirring occasionally and checking the beans. If the beans appear dry at the top, pour in additional liquid to make sure the beans stay submerged while cooking. Stir in a teaspoon of salt and continue to let the beans simmer for another 30-45 minutes until they are softened. 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.
• 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. Note: It is recommended to not add salt at the beginning stages of cooking beans or it will take longer for the beans to soften up. Wait till the last part of cooking beans when they start to feel softened to add the salt.
• 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.
• No pre-soaking required with pressure cooker method
• 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. Note: It is recommended to not add salt at the beginning stages of cooking beans or it will take longer for the beans to soften up. Wait till the last part of cooking beans when they start to feel softened to add the salt. Press the Keep Warm/Cancel button to turn off.
• 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.

KENTUCKY SOUP BEANS (PINTO BEANS)

Steps:

• 1. Rinse beans and pick out any stones or clumps of dirt. Put in a pot, cover with a couple inches of water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to soak overnight.
• 2. When you're ready to cook, drain soaking water and beans into a colander and rinse. Put beans into a big pot with a lid. Cover with water again to about an inch above the beans. Cut up hog jowl or salt pork (rinse the salt pork first) and add to pot. Peel and chop onion and garlic and add both to pot. DO NOT ADD SALT.
• 3. Bring to a boil and boil uncovered for five minutes, then turn heat down to a simmer. Simmer for two to three hours, stirring occasionally, or until beans are very soft and the skins break open if you scoop out a spoonful and blow across it. Taste to make sure they're done to your liking. [Note: Cooking in a covered pot results in more liquid than cooking in an uncovered pot. If you like a lot of 'soup', cover the pot; if you prefer your beans to be thicker, leave off the cover. My grandmother half-covered hers, and I do as well.]
• 4. Take the meat from the pot, separate the fat from the meat, chop up the meat and add it back to the pot. Take a half cup of beans from the pot, mash them lightly with a fork until they're a paste, and stir them back into the beans to thicken up the 'soup'. Add salt, pepper and Fiesta pinto bean seasoning (if desired) to taste and serve.
• 5. Recommended cornbread recipe here: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/bread/other-bread/cornbread-5.html?r=4

PINTO BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse beans and sort for stones.
• Soak beans in enough water to cover overnight.
• Drain off water.
• In skillet, brown bacon.
• Add onion and celery, stir.
• Add spices.
• Add this mixture to drained beans.
• Pour enough water to reach within 3 inches of top of pot.
• Bring to a boil.
• Simmer for 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally.
• When soup is about ready to serve, use a potato masher to crush up some of the beans to make a thicker soup.