What is Bean Pie? An American Muslim Dessert with a Rich History

Bean pie is a sweet dessert pie made from navy beans that is a traditional food in some Muslim communities in the United States. Though not as well known as apple or pumpkin pie to most Americans, bean pie has a long and interesting history intertwined with Islam and the Nation of Islam religious movement.

A Brief History of Bean Pie

While bean pie recipes exist in some form in various cultures, the particular bean pie familiar to many African American Muslims originated in the early 1930s. At this time, Fard Muhammad was preaching and spreading the teachings of the Nation of Islam, a movement and religious sect within Islam.

Fard Muhammad emphasized eating a healthy diet and avoiding pork and alcohol, in keeping with mainstream Islamic dietary practices. As an inexpensive protein source for his economically disadvantaged followers, Muhammad encouraged eating navy beans. Soon, bean pie recipes emerged as a creative way for members to incorporate beans into their daily meals.

After Fard Muhammad’s disappearance in 1934, Elijah Muhammad took over leadership of the Nation of Islam. He continued promoting navy beans and bean pie as good dietary choices for Nation of Islam followers, cementing bean pie’s enduring association with the movement.

In the 1950s and 1960s, bean pie became a well-known Nation of Islam food, sold by vendors on streets in big cities to provide jobs and income for Nation members. The pies were also a way to fundraise and bring visibility to the Nation.

Today, bean pie remains connected to the Nation of Islam, with some vendors still selling pies on city streets. However, bean pie is appreciated more widely as a legacy of African American Muslims in the US. The pie is now enjoyed at home and in restaurants beyond the Nation of Islam community.

What Ingredients Are in Bean Pie?

While specific bean pie recipes can vary slightly, the main ingredients that come together to create bean pie’s signature flavor are:

• Cooked navy beans – Traditional bean pie uses navy beans (also called haricot beans) as the main ingredient. White beans are blended to create the pie’s filling.

• Evaporated milk – Evaporated milk helps create a creamy texture and gives the pie body

• Eggs – Eggs act as a binder and add richness.

• Sugar – Sugar sweetens the pie filling. Brown or white sugar can both be used.

• Spices – Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice add warmth.

• Vanilla – Vanilla provides depth of flavor and aroma.

• Pie crust – The filling is baked in a pie crust, traditionally made from scratch or store-bought.

Beyond these core bean pie ingredients, some recipes may also include butter for extra richness, molasses for a hint of bitterness, lemon juice for brightness, or espresso powder for intensity. But a simple combination of beans, eggs, sugar, spices, and vanilla baked in a pie crust makes a classic bean pie.

What Does Bean Pie Taste Like?

The taste of bean pie is difficult to compare to more familiar pies like apple or pecan. With its smooth, custard-like bean filling spiced with cinnamon, bean pie has been described as similar to sweet potato pie by some.

Overall, when you take a bite of bean pie you can expect:

• Sweetness – The sugar makes bean pie decidedly sweet, though not overpoweringly so. It has a mellow sweetness.

• Warm spice – Cinnamon is typically the dominant spice, giving the pie a warming quality. Nutmeg, cloves, and allspice may add subtle spicy notes.

• Creamy and smooth – The bean and egg filling has a creamy, custard-like texture and consistency.

• Subtly nutty – Cooked beans contribute a very subtle nutty undertone.

• Richness – Ingredients like eggs, evaporated milk, and butter lend a rich mouthfeel.

• Vanilla aroma – The vanilla provides a lovely fragrance and prevents the pie from tasting too one-dimensional.

Some describe the unique flavor as earthy, nutty, and complex compared to fruit-based pies. The spice blend also gives bean pie a distinctly warm, aromatic taste.

How To Make Bean Pie

Part of bean pie’s appeal is how relatively simple it is to prepare compared to pie crust-based desserts that require pitting and peeling fruit. Here is an overview of the key steps:

Cook the beans – 1-2 cans of navy beans are rinsed and cooked until very soft and broken down. This can be done by boiling on the stovetop or baking in the oven.

Blend the filling – The cooked beans are blended with eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, spices, and vanilla, either in a food processor or blender. Blend until completely smooth.

Prepare pie crust – Make a pie dough from scratch, use refrigerated dough, or thaw frozen dough. Line a pie pan with bottom crust.

Fill and bake – Pour the blended filling into the pie crust. Top with a second crust or lattice top if desired. Bake at a high temp until set and browned.

Cool and slice – Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing neatly into wedges to serve!

The entire process takes about 2 hours with just 20-30 minutes of active cooking time. Bean pie filling can also be used for tarts or served pudding-style without a crust.

Tips for Making the Best Bean Pie

Here are some tips from seasoned bean pie bakers for getting exceptional results:

• Cook the beans very well – They should be broken down and almost mushy before blending. Undercooked beans can leave texture issues.

• Blend the filling thoroughly – A perfectly smooth, lump-free consistency is ideal.

• Add spices sparingly – Start with 1/4-1/2 tsp each then adjust to suit your taste. Too much spice can overwhelm.

• Bake at high heat first – This helps the filling set up before lowering the temp. Prevent soggy pie crust with this tip.

• Check for doneness before removing from oven – The center should not jiggle and a knife inserted should come out clean.

• Allow to cool fully before slicing – Cutting the pie too warm can make it less clean. Let it cool at least 1 hour before serving.

How To Serve and Eat Bean Pie

Bean pie is versatile when it comes to serving methods. It can be enjoyed:

• Warm from the oven – Some prefer bean pie slightly warm or at room temp when the spices perfume the air.

• Chilled – Sliced cold and eaten like pumpkin pie. Chilling allows the flavors to meld.

• With ice cream – Vanilla ice cream is a popular accompaniment to heighten the sweetness.

• With black coffee – Bean pie paired with dark roasted coffee makes a comforting dessert combo.

• For breakfast – Leftover slices are nice heated up for breakfast.

Slices of bean pie hold up well refrigerated for 3-4 days. It can be frozen as well. Bean pie makes a quick and satisfying dessert, but also works great as an energizing breakfast.

Popularity and Availability of Bean Pie Today

While still closely associated with the Nation of Islam community, bean pie has gained more broad awareness and appeal. Traditional homemade bean pies are still sold by street vendors in cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. However, bean pie has also made its way onto soul food restaurant menus as people recognize it as an important part of African American cuisine.

Bean pie recipes are starting to appear more often in mainstream cookbooks and websites, introducing more home cooks to the idea of baking their own. Grocery store availability of prepared bean pies has grown as major chains like Whole Foods, Walmart, and Target add bean pies from black-owned brands to their shelves.

There are now even national brands like Yummy Bean Pie and Muhammad’s Bean Pie that ship frozen bean pies nationwide. Though demand spikes during Ramadan, bean pies can now be found year round. They make a special autumnal dessert option just like pumpkin pie.

Should You Try This Unique Pie?

If you have never tasted bean pie before, trying a slice is worth it just for the novel experience. Fans praise bean pie’s smooth texture and robust spices. It offers a new flavor profile compared to fruit pies.

Making your own bean pie can be a fun baking project if you are interested in soul food or African American Muslim cuisine. Though unfamiliar to many, bean pie has a cool history and place in American culture. At just over 200 calories per hearty slice, bean pie can be a smart, nutritious dessert choice using humble beans.