How to Cook Yellow Eye Beans

5 from 2 votes

Learn how to cook and season yellow eye beans with this old-fashioned southern recipe!

Prep Time30

Cook Time2 30

Soaking Time6

Total Time9

Course: Main Dishes, Sides

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 298kcal

Sift through dried yellow eye beans in a bowl. Run your hands through them several times to look for stones. Remove any unwanted debris.
Add beans to a colander and rinse 3 times with water while continuing to check for debris. Rinse under a faucet until the water runs clear.
Put beans in a pot or large bowl and add enough water to cover them completely. Soak overnight (or at least 6 hours) for best results.
Drain beans in a colander and give them a quick rinse with cool water.
Add drained beans to a dutch oven or pot with 8 cups of fresh water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
Stir in salt, pepper, unsalted butter and streaked meat to the beans after they begin to boil. Close lid, but tilt it open so steam can escape.
Simmer beans for at least 2 ½ hours. Stir frequently during cooking. Check to see if beans are done (soft to the bite). Once they're ready, turn off the heat.
Ladle beans along with cooking liquid into bowls. Serve with pickled green tomatoes, chow-chow, or bread and butter pickles.

Make sure not to skip the first step to sort through beans because small stones are usually found.
During cooking, add hot water if needed to keep the beans from scorching.
Tilt the lid on the pot to allow steam to escape and keep beans from turning to mush.
If desired, add a diced onion and garlic clove to the beans with salt, pepper and butter. Bacon can be used instead of streaked meat if it can't be found.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place leftovers in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until warm.
When freezing beans, make sure to do so in their cooking liquid so they will stay plump. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.