How to Make Succotash a True Native American Dish

Succotash is an old-fashioned Native American dish. It's a traditional Thanksgiving food in some parts of the country, particularly Pennsylvania and some parts of the south. In any case, it's delicious, so give it a try.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/2 pound dried lima beans (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 1/4 pound salt pork, sliced 1/2 inch thick. If you can't find salt pork, you can substitute thick bacon.
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• water
• 1 can (12 ounce) kernel corn

1. 
   dried lima beans

   This dish is one of the true Native American dishes. It has been prepared and eaten on the North American continent for hundreds of years by several different Native American tribes. Traditionally they used dried corn, but for convenience sake this recipe calls for canned corn. This dish was often prepared using bear fat, but nowadays cooks substitute salt pork or bacon, or even butter or olive oil. Sometimes, other ingrediants are also added to this dish, like green peppers or onions, or other vegetables, but the true old-fashioned succotash was just lima beans and dried corn. The first step in preparing this dish is to soak the beans overnight. So, remember when using dried beans that they need overnight soaking. The next morning, drain the beans. (If you want to cheat even further you could used canned lima beans in this recipe, instead of the dried lima beans).

2. 
   succotash

   Place the salt pork on the bottom of a heavy saucepan or a dutch oven. Add the beans, pepper, salt, and water to cover. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed.

3. 
   corn

   Just before serving, stir in the corn, serve hot with salt pork. This recipe makes about eight servings and is a very hearty dish.

Resources

• About Succotash

[kerrylf]

on 1/21/2009 Sounds good.

[AprilThomas]

on 1/16/2009 Sounds delicious. Too bad I cannot digest corn or I would try it.

[Rachellewms]

on 1/13/2009 I really love succotash! Thanks for sharing :)

[motherNN]

on 1/11/2009 I loved this as a kid too. Seems like nobody makes it much anymore. I hope this article gets people making it again...and invite me over to eat it!!

[ReuseItAll]

on 1/1/2009 This brings back such wonderful memories of dinner at my grandmom's. I loved eating succotash as a kid! What a yummy recipe! Thanks!