8.12.2009

Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking: Ham and Green Beans

I'm a Pennsylvania girl. And not only that, I'm a Pennsylvania Dutch girl.

I grew up right in the middle of Lancaster county, aka Amish Country USA. There are lots of old PA Dutch recipes that no one has heard of.. Shoofly Pie, Chicken Pot Pie without the crust (far superior to crusted pot pie), Fastnachts, original Whoopie Pies, Scrapple, Pig Stomach.. the list goes on, and brings us to Ham and Green Beans.


People, you haven't lived until you've had this country meal. It takes a little time, but it's so worth it. The recipe I have for you today is the old fashioned way, but there are shortcut recipes out there if you're short on time. The way the savory flavors of the ham and green beans come together with the creaminess of the potatoes.. it's so good.

It's simple. It tastes like home.

A vacation to Amish country- just what you always wanted, right?

Ham and Green Beans

3-4 lb bone-in ham, uncooked
1-2 lb green beans, trimmed
5-6 potatoes, peeled and cut into large pieces
salt and pepper

1. In a large stock pot, cover the ham with water. Boil for 2 1/2-3 hours. Add extra water to cover as needed.

2. Add green beans to the pot and cook for 20-30 minutes. Remove the ham and add the potatoes. Cut or shred the meat while the potatoes cook until tender, about 30 minutes. Add the meat back to the pot and heat until warmed through. Let simmer until ready to serve.
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16 comments:

  1. Jen @ My Kitchen AddictionAugust 12, 2009 at 10:53 AM

    Wow - this dish takes me back. My mom used to make it ALL the time when I was growing up.

    I didn't realize you were from PA. I grew up in Mt. Gretna (just over the Lebanon County line from Lancaster County) and now I live near Hershey. My parents actually have Amish neighbors, believe it or not!

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  2. Nutmeg NannyAugust 12, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    Oh yeah! Growing up in Ohio we ate meals like this all the time. I made some beans the other day but just did a ham hock instead of pieces of ham. This looks so good. I really need to make another batch of beans...yum!

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  3. AnonymousAugust 12, 2009 at 3:58 PM

    Amish style chicken pot pie is my favorite dish in the whole world. So much so that my mom makes it for me every year for my birthday...in july...in her house with no air conditioning. It's totally worth the heat stroke.

    Ham and beans looks amazing as well :)

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  4. AnonymousAugust 15, 2009 at 8:23 PM

    this is one of my all-time favorite meals! and the really funny part is that my mom made this for dinner the exact same day you posted this!

    hope you enjoyed your weekend in lancaster county :)

    love you!
    Christina

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  5. DonyaAugust 16, 2009 at 6:03 AM

    I would love for you to post more of your favorite Amish dishes.

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  6. UnknownMarch 26, 2010 at 5:58 PM

    I'm another Pennsylvania Dutch girl, now living in Massachusetts. I recently gathered up recipes from my mother, grandmothers, aunts and other family members for a cookbook and this recipe is very similar to one I have in it. PA Dutch food is so satisfying!

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  7. MarcOctober 29, 2010 at 1:28 PM

    My grandmother used to make this all the time except hers had a whitish thick broth with it not the watery kind you see. We always had it with molasses bread! She passed away before I was old enough to get the recipe from her. Anyone have a recipe like this?

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  8. AnonymousNovember 3, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    I'd love that recipe too, Marc. I make this dish, but my broth is a little thin and bland. I ususally cook my ham all day before I add anything. Maybe if I just shred or chop it and add it back into the beans and potatoes and then cook tht with the lid off the broth will thicken? And I'm thinking about adding some garlic. I love garlic and eat it in everthing else. But some spice other than pepper is neede.

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  9. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    I lived in Allentown and used to head to a Mennonite food market near Topton to get summer savory for green beans. The Amish and Mennonites refer to it as "bean herb," and I've always used it in this dish. That and a little butter in the broth to finish it. Thanks for posting this. Your recipe is perfect (except for summer savory).

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  10. Invertir en oroMay 20, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Thanks for sharing this info because is very good and i like to post like this.

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  11. AnonymousJuly 17, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Reciepe just what I was looking for . 1st one on the net that is plain old fashion delicious meal. Thanks

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  12. Diane and KenJuly 27, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    I got this recipe from a Pennsylvania Dutch friend and she always cooked bacon ends first before adding the ham. Makes a richer broth.

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  13. xenoOctober 13, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    We ate this meal all the time growing up, especially in the fall/winter, I think we had it twice a week. Dad would bang everything into the crockpot in the early morning before work or school or hunting, and by evening we would have a wonderful, comforting meal waiting.

    We always had "lassy bread" with our ham and green beans. A slice of bread, butter, and Turkey Syrup or good sweet molasses, (King dark corn syrup if nothing else was available,) and apple cider vinegar drizzled over the plate too.

    My son turned 13 today, and asked for ham and green beans for his birthday supper. Tradition says I make it in the crock pot, but I have this new Lodge enameled dutch oven I have only used a few times, and found this site looking for cooking times and temps. Glad I did.

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  14. AnonymousJune 27, 2012 at 12:57 PM

    I'm a military wife (aka modern day nomad) and I've been homesick and craving some back-home foods from growing up in Berks County. Although I can't say I miss Scrapple much, Ham and Green Beans is one dish I do miss! Making it tonight. Thanks for the site. :)

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  15. gabrielleblauchJuly 10, 2012 at 5:29 PM

    I am from Lititz, Pa. I do have Amish neighbors. This is the recipe my mother made when I was growing up and I still make it for my family today. Yummy!

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  16. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2013 at 5:36 PM

    Love green beans and ham. My mom still makes whoopie pies from scratch, which are the best!

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