Cooking beans in a cast iron dutch oven is about as nostalgic as a person can get when thinking about firing up the dutch oven in the wilderness. Sometimes though, you just aren’t in the mood for plain old pinto beans.
We’ve rated this recipe as MODERATE due to having a couple of extra steps and having prep work soaking the beans overnight. It’s pretty close to easy though, so you shouldn’t have any difficulties.
This cajun style white beans and tasso recipe ought to get you there.
I’m a West Texan, so I’m about as close to an authority on slow cooked pinto beans as you can get, but secretly, my favorite bean is a cannellini bean (white kidney beans).
Related: Learn More About the Dutch Oven Equipment We Use
Cannellini beans are super-creamy and take on the flavor of just about anything you cook with them.
In this case, I chose cajun flavors. The spicy tasso combined with the cajun/creole trinity (onion, celery, and bell pepper), give that traditional Louisiana kick.
TIP: Tasso is a small, spicy, cajun style ham. If it isn’t available in your area, you can either make it with our recipe (coming soon…) or substitute the following:
- 1 lb. smoked ham (not sweet glazed), diced into 1/2″ cubes
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne powder
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1/4 tsp. ground sage
- 1/4 tsp. chipotle powder
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp white sugar
It won’t be exactly the same, especially as to the texture (tasso is typically firmer than a regular smoked ham), but it will have a similar flavor profile.
You can also use canned cannellini beans as opposed to dried. Two 15 oz. cans are about the same as one pound of dried beans. Dried are far better though since they’ll get the opportunity to absorb the flavors in the slower cook.
If you absolutely have to, you can use some other white bean. I recommend the cannellini beans though. If you can’t find them at your local grocery store, you can get them on Amazon.
This recipe for white beans and tasso is pretty simple. The main thing to keep in mind is to add salt at the end of the cooking process instead of the beginning. There is salt in the tasso and any more might make it overly salty as the liquid reduces. Remember, salt doesn’t evaroprate, water does. As the liquid evaporates, the salt to water ratio increases, making it saltier.
Finally, if you like creamier broth with your beans, about five minutes before your beans are done, just smash a few beans up against the side of the pot and stir them back in.
Explore more dutch oven camping recipes.
White Beans and Tasso
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Dried cannellini beans
- 1 lb. Tasso ham – (diced small)
- 1 tbs. vegetable oil
- 1 small Yellow onion – (diced)
- 2 Celery sticks – (diced)
- 1 Bell pepper – (diced small)
- 1 tbs. Minced garlic
- 2 Bay leaves
- 1 tsp. Dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp. Black pepper
- 6 cups Water
- 1 tsp. Morton's Kosher Salt
Instructions
Before You Leave Home
- Dice tasso into 1/2 inch cubes. Store in a zip-top bag.
- Dice onion and store in a zip-top bag.
- Dice celery and bell pepper and store together in a zip-top bag.
The Night Before at the Campsite
- Open dried cannellini beans and sort out any stones or grit.
- Put into a large bowl and cover with at least 2 inches of water.
- Cover with a lid, plastic wrap, or tin foil over night.
Ready to Cook
- Drain water from cannellini beans and rinse. Add 6 cups of water back in (note that its best to use bottled or filtered water. Campground tap-water can taste funky).
- Set your dutch oven up for frying. 14 hot briquettes underneath, with none on top.
- Let your dutch oven heat up until a drop of water sizzles and pops when dropped on it. Add your cooking oil and onions. Cook for 5 minutes, until translucent.
- Add chopped celery and bell pepper. Cook an additional 5 minutes until all ingredients are soft.
- Add minced garlic, bay leaves, thyme and black pepper. Cook an additional one minute.
- Add beans and water. Cover and bring to a low simmer and maintain for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Stir whenever you have to add charcoal. Remember, your coals will need to be replaced every twenty minutes or so. To maintain at a simmer, you'll need 6-8 briquettes underneath, depending on weather conditions.
- Taste for salt. Add more if necessary.
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