Guernsey Bean Jar

Guernsey Bean Jar has been part of island life for centuries. It is said that in the past the bakers of Guernsey used to let islanders put their prepared bean jars in the warm ovens overnight after they had finished cooking the bread. By the morning they were well cooked and ready to collect. Many islanders ate the dish for breakfast until around the 1920s. Today though it is more associated as tasty winter fayre much loved on Bonfire Night, or as it’s known locally ‘Budloe Night’. It tastes great but the inclusion of so many beans may mean that you’ll be making fireworks of your own!

Prep Time	:	10 minutes (excluding the overnight soak)
Cook Time	:	6-8 hours
Total Time	:	6-8 hours
Serves	:	4

Ingredients

• 1 pigs trotter or shin of beef
• ½lb (200g) Haricot beans
• ½lb (200g) butter beans
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 carrots diced
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 pints (1.1 litres) of beef stock or water

 

Preparation

1. Soak the beans overnight in water.
2. Place all the ingredients in either an earthenware pot or a large casserole dish and pour over the water or stock.
3. Cover the jar or dish and place it in a moderate oven at gas 2-3 or 150-170°C for 6-8 hours.
4. Check the dish occasionally and top up the water level as needed.
5. Check the seasoning, remove the bones from the meat and the bay leaf.
6. Serve with crusty bread and Guernsey butter.

 

Variations

Variations include using all haricot beans, using 1lb of carrots instead of just two, using 1lb of onions instead of just one, adding in two potatoes and adding a bouquet garni with the bay leaf.