Bean pie

A bean pie is a sweet custard pie whose filling consists of mashed beans, usually navy bean, sugar, eggs, milk, butter and spices.^[1] Common spices and flavorings include vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Variations can include cloves, ginger, pumpkin pie spice and lemon extract.

Bean pie

A selection of bean pies
Type	Pie
Place of origin	United States
Main ingredients	Beans (usually navy beans) Sugar Butter Milk Spices

History

In 1884, a recipe for bean pie was published in the New Kentucky Home Cook Book, contributed by Lucy Keith and compiled by the ladies of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Maysville, Kentucky.^[2] According to her obituary, "she was a typical daughter of the old South, noted for her kindness and charity and was a life long member of the M.E. Church, South."^[3]

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.^[4] The pies are also specifically associated with the Nation of Islam movement and Elijah Muhammad, who encouraged their consumption instead of certain ingredients associated with soul food.^[1][5][6]

Members of the community commonly sell bean pies as part of their fundraising efforts. The bean pie was allegedly introduced by Elijah Muhammad, who was a restaurateur in the 1910s and 1920s prior to founding the Nation of Islam in 1930.^[1][5]

See also

• List of custard desserts
• List of pies, tarts and flans
• Pie in American cuisine