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Leather Britches Beans

Dried green beans, traditionally strung and air-dried, simmered slowly with salt pork until tender.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 120 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 Appalachian KitchenCategory
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Leather Britches Beans

Dried green beans, traditionally strung and air-dried, simmered slowly with salt pork until tender.

Beans strung for winter

Green beans strung on thread and hung to dry — ‘leather britches’ — were the mountain way to keep summer’s harvest for winter.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Rinse the dried beans well; if they're tough, soak in water 1-2 hours.
  2. Combine the beans, salt pork, onion, pepper, and water in a pot.
  3. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently 1 1/2-2 hours, until the beans are tender and flavorful.
  4. Taste and add salt only if needed (the pork is salty).
  5. Serve hot with cornbread — and a splash of the pot liquor.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Drying concentrates the bean flavor beautifully. Don't add salt early — the pork provides plenty.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook120 min
Servings6
CategoryAppalachian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →