Bean-Hole Beans
Serves: 4
Camila Dooley
1 January 1970
Based on User reviews:
47
Spice
47
Sweetness
37
Sourness
47
mins
Prep time (avg)
5.5
Difficulty
Ingredients:
10 cups
Great Northern Beans (dried)2
Onions2.5 cups
Molasse1 tsp
Black Pepper4 tsps
Hot Mustard (dry)1 cup
ButterDirections:
1
The bean hole should be 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep, depending on your pot
2
The hole should be big enough around to have a 6 inch space between the pot and the edge of the hole on all sides
3
To help hold heat, put some old tire chains or stones in the hole before starting the fire
4
Start the fire and keep it filled with good dry hardwood
5
Let it burn for about 3 hours
6
The hole should be at least 3/4 full of hot coals
7
After the fire has been going for about an hour, place the beans in a large pot, on the stove with water to cover
8
Bring to a boil and cook until skins roll back when you blow on them, about 45 minutes
9
Watch closely, because they will get mushy if left too long
10
When the hole is ready, cut the salt pork in to 2 inch wide and 1/4 inch thick slices
11
Place them into the bottom of the bean pot
12
Peel and cut the onions in half; lay them on top of the pork
13
Pour the beans and their liquid into the pot, then mix in the molasses, black pepper and dry mustard
14
Slice butter and place on top
15
Add enough boiling water to cover the beans by one inch
16
Cover the top of the pot tightly with aluminum foil so that it goes down over the sides by at least 2 inches
17
Place lid onto bean pot
18
Before putting the pot into the hole, remove about 1/3 of the coals using a shovel
19
Remove and discard any burning pieces of wood
20
Place the bean pot into the hole, and put the coals from the hole back in around the sides and over the top of the bean pot
21
Now start filling the hole in with the dirt, packing it down with your feet as you go
22
You should end up with about 2 feet of dirt covering the pot
23
Cover the place where the beans are buried with a tarp or piece of metal to keep out rain
24
Let the beans stew overnight in their bean hole
25
Carefully dig them out the next day and enjoy!