SWEET WHITE BEAN PIE

Sweet White Bean Pie made with baby lima beans

I started off soaking my baby lima beans for 24 hours when I realized I had soaked more than I needed for the bean curry I had intended to make.  In searching for a recipe to use these excess soaked beans, I remembered those bean pies I used to buy from some Islamic vendors dressed in suits on Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson in Los Angeles.  They were so good. You would never know they had beans in it at all.  If my memory serves me right, it was more like rich custard pie that was a cross of sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie..  So I continued my research till I found one similar to what I thought it would taste like.  First a tidbit of information.  Lol actually it wasn't a recipe at all.  Just some ingredients of what a bean pie has in it.  I know my  spices so I can do the math.

According to the free Wikipedia, it states that a bean pie is a sweet custard pie whose filling consists of mashed beans--usually navy beans--sugar, butter, milk, and spices.  Common spices and flavorings include vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Variations can include cloves, ginger, etc"  It's interesting to know that, "Bean pies (except those containing vanilla or imitation vanilla extract, as these contain alcohol) are commonly associated with African American Muslim cuisine.  They are also associated with the Nation of Islam movement its leader, Elijah Muhammed, encouraged their consumption in lieu of richer foods associated with African-American cuisine, and the followers of the community sell bean pies as part of their fund-raising efforts. I like that idea, and I'm already sold.  That's all I needed to hear.  It's healthy, cheap, and easy to make.  Best of all, its so delicious. so lets do it:)

Ingredients:

Soak your beans for 24 hours for
better nutrition absorbtion

• White Beans 2 cups cooked and drained
• Sugar  3/4 cup  (I used 1/2 cup brown sugar and 6 artificial sweeteners)
• Butter 3/4 cup softened
• Milk 1/2 cup (or non dairy, I used coconut milk)
• Flour 1 tablespoon
• Vanilla 1 teaspoon
• Cinnamon 1 teaspoon
• Pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon (optional)
• Nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon
• Cloves 1/8 teaspoon
• Pie Crust 9 inch (Not cookie crumb crust)

Instructions:  Preheat oven to 350 F

Mix all the ingredients together till blended
well.

• Mix all the ingredients together in mixer and mix well.
• Strain through strainer to catch all the bean skins.
• Pour into a 9 inch pie crust, and set that on a cookie sheet
• Put in oven and bake approximately 45 minutes, or until there is a nice golden crust and a knife comes out clean once poked in the center.  It smells so lovely with all the spices.  

Yes, tis the season folks. Holidays are right around the corner, and this is just a beginning of more delicious recipes that are cheap and easy to make for those Holiday dishes.   Your family and friends will think you really outdid yourself with one of these pies. They do make great "I love you gifts" any time of the year. My brother used to say that I was the "Hostess with the Mostest" with my million dollar recipes.  I hope this Sweet White Bean Pie sparks an interest to do something creative with those beans besides baking them, or serving them re-fried.  It's healthy, cheap and delicious and so easy to make.

Yummy Sweet White Bean Pie tastes like a cross
of sweet potato pie, and pumpkin pie, with a
strong egg custard texture.  Mmm. GOOD.

Well, that's it for now.  Again I leave you with many blessings.  If you like my simple recipes please feel free to share this site with others so they too can be inspired to cook too.  Goodnight dear reader.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen