Demystifying Bean Pie: A Sweet and Spicy Twist on Custard Pie

Rhonda K. Muhammad has been making this traditional pie for more than 40 years. He is a teacher with a doctorate in education leadership, a culinary arts teacher, and the owner of Rhonda’s Pie Creations. Shell be talking about culinary traditions from African to America from 3:45 p. m. to 4:15 p. m. , Saturday, during the African American Cultural Celebration at the N. C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh. The event, which kicks off Black History Month, is free.

During Muhammads talk, shell also be offering samples of her famous pie. Heres what she says about the sought-after dish:

“Many big cities, like New York, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Newark, serve bean pie as a dessert.” It has its early beginnings as a creative expression for dessert made from the navy bean. Food was scarce after the Great Depression, and people had to make do with less. The navy bean was used for more than just bean soup during this time. It was a mainstay in African American families and was used in many ways as a cheap and useful plant-based source of protein. Included is the dessert bean pie, which is often served with whip cream or ice cream. “.

Muhammad tells me she gets requests for the pie at gatherings, family reunions, banquets and other special occasions. Like every week, Muhammad shares her much-loved bean pie recipe with us as part of Go Ask Moms’ featured recipe series!

Use a food processor or blender to grind or mix 2 cups of navy beans (follow the directions on the package). Add 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 eggs, and 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg. Add 2 cups of sugar, 1½ cups of milk, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

With an electric blender, blend beans, butter, milk, eggs, nutmeg and flour about 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into 9 inch pie shells. Bake about one hour until golden brown. Makes 2 or 3 bean pies.

Bean pie is a uniquely American dessert with an intriguing backstory This custard pie gets its distinctive flavor from an unexpected ingredient – beans! Though unfamiliar to many people today, bean pie has origins in African-American Muslim culture and continues to be a soul food staple for some.

For those who have never tasted this sweet and spicy pie before, the concept can be confusing. Let’s demystify bean pie and explore what exactly it is, where it came from, and how to enjoy a slice of this underappreciated dessert.

The Simple Ingredients That Make Bean Pie

While called “bean pie” this dessert isn’t just beans tossed into a crust. Bean pie has a smooth creamy texture thanks to ingredients that create a custard-like filling. The basic components are

Beans – Traditionally navy beans, but other types of white beans can also be used. The beans provide body and texture.
Eggs – Eggs help bind the pie and add richness.
Evaporated milk – Makes the pie extra creamy and velvety.
Sugar – Granulated white sugar is most common, but brown sugar can also be used to slightly deepen the flavor.
Spices – Usually cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and other warm spices.
Vanilla – Vanilla brightens up the flavor.
Pie crust – Either homemade or store-bought.

When combined, these simple ingredients produce a sweet and comforting dessert similar to pumpkin or pecan pie in taste and texture. The beans provide substance while the spices give it character.

The Fascinating History Behind Bean Pie

While bean pie recipes likely existed before the 1900s, the dessert became more widely known in the 1930s. This is when Wallace Fard Muhammad founded the Nation of Islam, a religious sect. He encouraged his largely African-American followers to eat a clean, healthy diet.

To provide an affordable source of protein, Muhammad promoted the use of navy beans. Bean pie emerged as a creative spin on a familiar dessert using inexpensive ingredients available to the community.

After Muhammad’s disappearance in 1934, Elijah Muhammad assumed leadership of the Nation of Islam. He also championed the consumption of navy beans and bean pie. In the 1950s and 1960s, bean pie became strongly associated with the Nation of Islam.

Vendors in cities like Chicago and Washington D.C. would sell bean pies on the streets to raise funds and visibility for the movement. Though initially obscure outside the Nation of Islam, bean pie became an icon of African-American cuisine.

What Does Bean Pie Taste Like?

Beans may seem like a peculiar pie filling, but their mild flavor blends nicely with sweet spices. The texture and taste of bean pie is similar to:

Pumpkin pie – With a smooth, custard-like consistency and warm cinnamon flavor.
Sweet potato pie – Dense and creamy with notes of nutmeg and ginger.
Pecan pie – Beans have a subtle nuttiness that pairs well with brown sugar.

The spice blend gives bean pie a signature warmth and complexity. While not as overtly sweet as fruit pies, it satisfies with a rich mouthfeel and distinct aroma. It’s sweet enough to feel like a treat but also hearty and nourishing.

Tips for Making Bean Pie at Home

Part of the charm of bean pie is how straightforward it is to make at home. Here’s a quick overview:

Cook the beans until very soft, then mash. Navy, cannellini and great northern beans all work.
Whisk eggs together with evaporated milk, sugar, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice.
Combine the bean mash and egg mixture, blending well until completely smooth.
Pour into an unbaked pie crust and bake at 425°F for 15 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350°F and bake 30 more minutes until just set in the middle.
Cool pie completely before slicing into wedges. Top with whipped cream.

With active prep time of just 15 minutes, bean pie makes an easy and thrifty dessert. It keeps for 2-3 days refrigerated too.

Creative Ways to Serve Bean Pie

While bean pie is great with just a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it can also be served:

Warm with black coffee – The spice pairing is superb.
With tart fruit like raspberries – Bright fruit cuts the richness.
In mini-pies or pie jars – Cute individual portion sizes.
In a chocolate wafer crust – Adds crunch and complexity.
With maple whipped cream – For an autumnal flair.
Crumbled on top of oatmeal – Delicious breakfast twist.

However you choose to slice and serve it, bean pie is sure to impress guests with its scandalously tasty filling bursting with flavor.

Finding Bean Pie Beyond the Home Kitchen

Once obscure outside the Nation of Islam community, bean pie has broken into the mainstream. You can now find bean pie:

At soul food restaurants – Bean pie is appearing on more menus as people recognize its cultural importance.
In grocery store freezer aisles – Brands like Muhammad’s and Yummy marketplace bean pies nationally.
From online specialty retailers – Small batch bean pie makers ship pies nationwide.
From street vendors in major cities – Sidewalk bean pie sales continue today to support entrepreneurs.
At halal bakeries – Bean pie is a popular offering at Muslim-owned bakeries.
In cookbooks and magazines – Bean pie recipes are being shared more widely.

Though it can be difficult to find in some regions, bean pie is gaining well-deserved attention as a classic soul food dessert.

Should You Try This Unique Pie?

If you love pumpkin, pecan, or sweet potato pie, bean pie is definitely worth trying for its comforting texture and bold spices. It’s an enlightening taste of history in one slice! Making your own bean pie can be a fun weekend baking project.

And if you can’t find bean pie locally, shipping frozen pies from online sellers lets you sample this iconic African-American dessert. Just go into that first bite with an open mind, and you might just find a new favorite pie.

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WHAT IS A BEAN PIE?!

FAQ

What religion sells bean pies?

Perhaps more than any other signifier, the bean pie has become representative of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a Black religious and political organization that at one time was America’s largest Muslim cohort.

What is a Nation of Islam bean pie?

The bean pie is sweet, custard-like, and a foundationally humble foodstuff. It’s also a culinary icon of the controversial Nation of Islam and of revolutionary black power. The bean pie’s basic ingredients are simple: navy beans, sugar, eggs, milk, some warming spices, and a whole-wheat crust.

Why was bean pie created?

Muhammad advocated against eating some healthy vegetables like peas, collard greens, turnip greens, sweet potatoes and white potatoes as a way to distance African Americans from what he considered “cheaply raised” slave foods, which is what probably led to the replacement of sweet potatoes with navy beans and the birth …

Is bean pie a black thing?

Bean pies are now commonly associated with African American Muslims’ cuisine as an alternative to soul foods, except those containing vanilla extract or imitation vanilla extract as they contain alcohol.