Shucky beans

Appalachian bean dish
Stringing green beans for drying.
Green beans, strung up to dry on the porch.
Dried green beans (know as leather britches or shucky beans)

Shucky beans (also called "leather britches") are an American legume dish, made of dried green beans that have been preserved for winter consumption. It is one of the most common side dishes of old-fashioned Appalachian cuisine.[1] The traditional method to prepare the shucky beans is with a needle and thread. The beans are strung on the thread and hung, usually behind a wood stove, until they shrivel giving the appearance of "leather britches". They can be dried other ways as well such as in a greenhouse, on a tin roof or in a hot car.[2] They are stored in a pillowcase or flour sack in a dry area until needed. The dried beans can be simmered for a few hours with fatback to create a winter meal that can be served with cornbread and sliced onion.[3]

References

  1. ^ The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture Volume 7: Foodways. University of North Carolina Press. 2014. p. 119. ISBN 9781469616520.
  2. ^ Best, Bill (2013). Saving Seeds, Preserving Taste: Heirloom Seed Savers in Appalachia. Ohio University Press. p. 70. ISBN 9780821444627.
  3. ^ Netherland, Robert G. (2016). Southern Appalachian Farm Cooking. University of Tennessee Press. p. 78.
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