Marianne Martinez
Speckled butter beans are a summertime Southern favourite. They are typically cooked with a ham hock enhanced broth and served with fried chicken, okra, collard greens, and cornbread. This dish can be made in a crock pot, with the crockpot speckled butter beans and okra stew being a classic and super easy dish. The preparation time is less than 5 minutes, and the dish can be served over rice.
Crockpot Speckled Butter Beans and Okra Stew
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Southern-style |
| Ingredients | Speckled butter beans, okra, bacon, onion, bell pepper, ham hock, water, butter, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder |
| Crockpot temperature | Low |
| Cooking time | 5 hours |
| Serving suggestions | White rice, cornbread, collard greens, fried okra, fried chicken, fresh tomatoes |
| Notes | You can use frozen or fresh beans and vegetables. You can also use vegetable broth instead of water. |
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What You'll Learn
Crockpot speckled butter beans and okra stew
Ingredients
- 1 lb speckled butter beans (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup okra, sliced (fresh or frozen)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 pound of bacon
- Cooked white rice
Instructions
- Prep the Crockpot: Add butter beans, okra, onion, tomatoes, and garlic to the crockpot.
- Season: Pour in the broth, then add smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper. You can also add Cajun seasonings and garlic powder. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 5-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until beans are tender.
- Serve: Adjust seasoning, stir, and enjoy as a side or main dish with cooked white rice and cornbread.
This recipe is perfect for a comforting Sunday meal and can be made in advance and frozen. It is a dump-and-go recipe that takes less than 5 minutes to make!
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Soaking and seasoning the beans
To cook speckled butter beans in a crock pot, you'll want to start by soaking your beans. This step is optional but helps to reduce the cooking time and can result in a creamier texture. To soak the beans, simply cover them with water and let them sit for at least an hour, or even overnight if you're planning ahead. You can also add some baked garlic to the soak for extra flavour. Once they've soaked, give them a good rinse and pick through them to remove any debris.
Now it's time to season the beans! For a classic Southern flavour, you can't go wrong with a ham hock. Place the ham hock in your crock pot with some water and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and let it simmer for about 30 minutes. Then, add your rinsed beans to the pot, bring it back up to a boil, and once again reduce the heat to a very low simmer. Cover and cook for about 40 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Remove the ham hock, shred any meat off the bone, and return the meat to the pot.
If you're looking to cut down on fat, you can use chicken bouillon instead of a ham hock. Simply place your rinsed beans in the crock pot with the chicken bouillon, salt, and enough water to cover the beans. You can also add in some butter or bacon fat for extra flavour. Cook on high for about an hour and a half, then turn the crock pot to low and continue cooking for another 2-3 hours, or until the beans are tender.
For a vegetarian option, vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken bouillon. This will add more flavour than just water and help to steam your beans. You can also experiment with different seasonings like Cajun spices and garlic powder. Don't be afraid to get creative and adjust the seasonings to your taste!
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Cooking time and temperature
Crock pots are a great way to cook speckled butter beans, as the low and slow cooking allows the beans to become tender and creamy. The cooking time and temperature for speckled butter beans in a crock pot can vary slightly depending on the specific recipe and the desired doneness of the beans. However, here is a general guide:
To start, it is recommended to rinse and sort the beans, picking through for any debris if they are fresh. Then, add the beans to the crock pot with the desired seasonings, vegetables, and bacon or ham for flavour. You can also add water or vegetable broth to the crock pot, ensuring that the liquid covers the beans by about one inch.
For the cooking temperature, it is typical to cook speckled butter beans on high heat for the first 1.5 hours. This initial high heat helps to accelerate the cooking process and bring the beans to a boil.
After the first 1.5 hours, you can turn the crock pot down to low heat and continue cooking for an additional 2 to 4 hours. The low heat setting allows the beans to simmer gently, infusing flavour from the seasonings and other ingredients. The longer cooking time on low heat helps the beans become tender without becoming mushy.
It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the desired doneness of the beans. Some people prefer their beans with a slight bite, while others prefer them very soft and creamy. Therefore, it is essential to taste the beans periodically towards the end of the cooking process to achieve the desired texture.
Additionally, if using dried beans, it is recommended to soak them for at least an hour before adding them to the crock pot. Soaking helps to rehydrate the beans and reduce the cooking time slightly.
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Serving suggestions
Crockpot speckled butter beans can be served in many ways. A classic dish is to cook them with okra and serve over rice. You can also add in some bacon, onion, and bell pepper, along with seasonings like Cajun spices and garlic powder. This dish can be served with cornbread for a traditional Southern meal.
Speckled butter beans are also delicious when cooked with andouille sausage, bell pepper, onion, and Creole seasoning. This combination can be served over rice or with cornbread.
For a more substantial meal, serve crockpot speckled butter beans with fried chicken, fried okra, fresh tomatoes, and cornbread. You can also add in some collard greens for extra flavour and nutrition.
If you're looking for a heartier dish, try serving the beans over buttered egg noodles or even pasta. This combination is a great way to enjoy the beans as a more filling meal.
Speckled butter beans can also be paired with hot water cornbread, collard greens, and fried okra for a tasty and creamy meal. This combination is sure to satisfy your cravings for Southern comfort food.
Finally, you can serve crockpot speckled butter beans as a simple side dish. They go well with fried potatoes, ham steaks, or even a sweet potato praline dish containing pecans.
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Southern-style speckled butter beans
Speckled butter beans are a summertime Southern favourite. They are typically cooked with a ham hock enhanced broth, but you can also use smoked pork necks, smoked turkey leg, or bacon. For a vegetarian option, use chicken bouillon and butter or a butter substitute for seasoning.
To make Southern-style speckled butter beans in a crock pot, first, slash the ham hock with a knife and place it in the crock pot with water. You can substitute the ham hock with other smoked pork, including bacon, or use salt pork or fatback. Bring this to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Next, rinse the beans and check for any debris if they are fresh. Add them to the crock pot and bring to a boil again. After that, stir, reduce the heat to a very low simmer, cover, and cook for 40 minutes. Remove the ham hock, pull the meat off, and return it to the pot before discarding the bone. You can also add in additional chopped, smoked ham or bacon drippings for extra flavour. Finally, add a little butter and stir.
You can also make a crockpot speckled butter beans and okra stew by dumping frozen butter beans, okra, chopped bacon, onion, bell pepper, and seasonings into the crockpot with some vegetable broth. Cook this on low heat for at least 5 hours and serve over white rice.
Southern butter beans are often served with fried chicken, fried okra, fresh tomatoes, and cornbread for a traditional Southern dinner.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes around 5 hours to cook speckled butter beans in a crock pot on low heat.
You will need speckled butter beans, bacon or ham, and vegetables such as okra, onion, and bell pepper. You can also add seasonings like Cajun spices and garlic powder.
It is recommended to soak the beans for an hour before cooking and to rinse them to remove any debris.
