Southern Butter Beans
User Reviews
5
Southern Butter Beans
Description
This recipe starts by crisping bacon to render fat and flavor. Vegetables like diced onion, carrot, and celery are sautéed in the bacon grease, building a savory base. Frozen butter beans cook slowly in chicken broth with spices including Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes, combined with some bacon for depth.
After the beans become tender, heavy cream and butter enrich the mixture, resulting in a velvety, thickened bean dish. Additional salt and pepper adjust seasoning before serving. Garnishing with crumbled bacon adds texture and smoky accent.
The dish offers a creamy, mildly spicy profile with smoky undertones from bacon and Cajun spices. It's fitting as a comforting Southern-inspired side or a satisfying vegetarian-adapted entree if bacon and broth swaps are made. The recipe details simmering time and seasoning flexibility to accommodate heat preferences.
The notes suggest options to control spiciness, substitute vegetable broth and omit bacon for vegetarians, and enhancing flavor by adding smoked ham. Leftover bacon is recommended for topping to maintain a crispy texture. Serving suggestions include pairing with hearty dishes like pork chops or jambalaya.
Ingredients
- 28 oz butter bean frozen
- 32 oz chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup onion diced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup butter
- ⅓ cup carrot
- ⅓ cup celery
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- ½ - 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning or to taste
- 12 lices Bacon divided (6 crumbled for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon bacon grease reserved
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp.
- Remove bacon and bacon grease, then return 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease to the pot and heat.
- Set bacon strips on a paper towel to drain and cool, then crumble.
- Add diced onion, celery, carrots and sauté until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the butter beans, broth, bacon and seasonings.
- Bring the broth to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 45 to 1 hour, or until tender.
- Then stir in heavy cream and butter into bean mixture until thickened, about 15 minutes more.
- Season with salt and pepper, and top with additional crumbled bacon before serving.
Notes
- Omit red pepper flakes and Cajun seasoning for a milder version.
- To increase spice, add more red pepper flakes and Cajun seasoning to taste.
- For a vegetarian option, skip the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Reserve some cooked bacon pieces for garnish to add crispy texture when serving.
- Adding chopped smoked ham with bacon and broth enriches the meat flavor.
- This dish pairs well with Southern-style dinners such as smothered pork chops and jambalaya.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 470 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 470kcal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 24g | 8% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 36g | 55% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Cholesterol | 93mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 1048mg | 44% |
| Potassium | 734mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 1917IU | 38% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 54mg | 5% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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