Pork and Beans

Pork and beans is a classic American dish made with pork and beans as the main ingredients. There are many variations on the dish, and although the origin is murky, the 1832 cookbook The American Frugal Housewife lists only three main ingredients – beans, salt pork, and pepper.

Over time, the dish was commercially available in canned versions, generally consisting of navy beans, tomato sauce, and chunks of salt pork or pork fat. Nowadays, the dish is often enriched with the addition of carrots, onions, garlic, and fresh herbs such as thyme and bay leaves, while versions prepared in the American South sometimes include ingredients such as barbecue sauce, white vinegar, paprika, mustard, and brown sugar.

Pork and beans was also a staple of American cowboy meals because the ingredients were portable and nutritious.