I'm not advertising for Camellia Beans, but I was raised on Camellia
Beans. I love BEANS! ...and cook most of them, pretty dang good. This is
a favorite lima bean recipe passed downed (sort'a) from my Dad and Mom.
Of course I took away and added a couple of ingredients and spices and I
expect my Kids to do the same to make it one of their favorite dishes.
Ingredients:
1 lb. package of large dry lima beans (pre-soak over night then drain)
1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
one diced jalapeno
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 lb. cooked diced ham
1/2 lb. diced smoked sausage
2 or 3 smoked ham hocks
1 can of your favorite beer
1/4 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup of self rising flour
* seasoning: salt, black pepper, white pepper, red pepper,
Worcestershire and basil flakes. Use your seasoning skills!
In a large iron pot; boil, cut, and, simmer the hocks in 6 cups of
water. Season with a little salt, black pepper, white pepper and red
pepper and simmer for at least two hours.
Make a light chocolate colored roux in a large skillet with the olive
oil and flour. Carefully add the chopped vegetables, parsley, jalapeno
and garlic to the cooked roux and sauté until the vegetables are wilted.
Spoon-in the roux into the pot. Add the beans, ham, sausage, beer and
enough water to cover if needed after your stock has cooked down and a
couple more dashes of your seasonings.
Bring to a slow boil then cut heat to simmer for at least 2 hours. Skim
fat from the top as the pot cooks and add a little more liquid (water,
chicken broth) if needed. When the beans are tender, taste in case you
need a little more seasoning.
That's it. Maybe sounded a little complicated, but it's not, and, the
taste is real rustic, Cajun eats.
"Lagniappe: Serve over a mound of Rice with a little Gumbo Fillet
sprinkled over-top. Pop's always made Cornbread with this. Momma made
Biscuits. Granny would have both, plus Rabbit Dumplin's, Fried Chicken
and a bunch of cookies and cakes for us kids!
D. Bass