The Muslim Bean Pie: Some History and the Best Recipe

This bean pie is traditionally made from cooked and processed (in a blender) navy beans. My family has roots with the Nation of Islam and that group was well known for their bean pies. To some people, they are known as the 'Muslim' bean pie. (Disclaimer: People who follow the ideology of the Nation of Islam are NOT Muslims. Their affiliation to Islam and Muslims is a false one. Islam and Muslims are free from them. The only reason for the usage of 'Muslim' bean pie is for historical reference and to differentiate this bean pie from other types of bean pies.) Followers of the Nation of Islam sold them to raise funds for the group. The group is still well known for their bean pies, but their numbers and notoriety aren't as strong as they were when my parents and grandparents were with them. Although many of its original members left the Nation after the death of Elijah Muhammad and became Muslims, the influences of the bean pie are still strong in the African-American Muslim community. If you were to visit most Sunni masjids with a sizable African-American population and some Muslim businesses, more than likely, you'll find some bean pies for sale or someone there can tell you where to find the pies or who bakes them.

Depending on what part of the U.S. you reside, you may or may not have had chance to taste a bean pie. Some people have may have never even heard of a bean pie. Well if you've never had the pleasure, let me try to describe it. The crust is usually perfectly flaky, but firm and not sloppy, with just the right amount of sweetness and combination of seasonings. Some people eat the bean pies right out of the aluminum pan it came in with no fork necessary. I prefer to slice mine in quarters. You simply peel off the plastic wrap and bend away the thin foil pan it came in to expose the crust to take a bite. If you taste a pie that is made right, the taste is absolutely delicious. If it doesn't taste that great, don't blame the pie, rather blame the recipe. There are a lot of them out there and some are vastly different than others. Some may prefer to take it home to heat and eat, although I'm partial to the cold refrigerated pie. As with other foods, higher temperature makes the pie taste different, similar to how room temperature milk is tastes different compared to cold milk right out of the fridge.

Sometimes, non-Muslims will see me and ask me where they can get a bean pie. I can understand the affection faithful buyers have for them. Many times they are a local delicacy and if they've moved, a certain retail location stops carrying them, or the street vendor is nowhere to be found, they are left on their own to figure out a new source to satisfy their bean pie fix. Sometimes you'll find more than one brand of bean pies at a retail location. You may also find that some bakers get creative and make banana-bean, sweet potato-bean, and even blueberry-bean. Most of the bean pies are made by local bakers in home ovens. These pies aren't usually mass produced. I do know of one company from the Washington D.C. area that wholesales them, but I don't like them. It's called a custard bean pie and isn't the traditional taste and texture I grew up with.

The price of most bean pies in the northeastern U.S. hover around $2.50-3.00 a piece for the ones you can find for sale most readily. Some bakers also sell the 9 inch pies for around $8.00, but more than likely they need to be special ordered. Prices may be lower in other places and sometimes you may find smaller pies for less. If you aren't fortunate enough to live in a location where bean pie sales are prevalent, there is hope for you.

I had the fortunate pleasure of having the absolute best bean pie I have tasted and I have tasted many. I am a baker, but don't really do pies. I knew I had to have this bean pie recipe. Where I'm from, bean pies are eaten regularly, but it's rare to find a gem of a pie like this one. I waited patiently until I was able to get the recipe. This recipe is surprisingly very simple to make. An inexperienced baker should be able to make it with ease.

"Don't hurt yourself now." is what may have to tell everybody including yourself after you take a bite. You will want some more even though your tummy may be a tad full from your meal. This is NOT the kind of pie you want to take a bite of if you're watching your weight! Be forewarned that this pie is addictive. So, without further ado, here it is:

Best Tasting Traditional Bean Pie

2 cups navy beans (cooked according to package instructions)

Note: You'll want to make sure that you have planned ahead to make this pie because you need to pre-soak the beans before you can cook them.

1 stick butter

2 tablespoons flour

4 eggs

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups sugar

1 14oz. can evaporated milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons vanilla

Cook beans until soft. Preheat oven. to 350 degrees.

In electric blender, blend beans, butter, milk, eggs, nutmeg and flour about 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into pie shells. (Mrs. Smith's brand pie crust is a good one to use.) Bake about one hour until golden brown. Makes 2 or 3 Bean Pies.