Down East Succotash Food

CANNED SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Have ready 5 very clean pint jars with new lids and screw-top bands that have been simmered in hot water; keep submerged in hot water until ready for use.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add corn. Cook until tender, about 4 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut off kernels (do not cut so close to cobs that the milk comes out; you should have 5 cups). Reserve cobs to make corn soup. Combine corn kernels and beans.
• Place 1/2 teaspoon salt in each hot empty jar. Fill each jar with 1 1/2 cups hot succotash, leaving 1-inch space at top.
• Place rack in a pressure canner, and fill canner with 3 quarts boiling water. Place jars on rack. Align cover handles so they are locked into position according to manufacturer's instructions. Remove pressure regulator from steam vent. Heat canner over high heat. Let steam release from vent 10 minutes, then return pressure regulator to steam vent.
• Process corn at 11 pounds pressure 1 hour, adjusting for altitude and type of pressure canner according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Turn off heat, and let pressure drop naturally, about 40 minutes. When canner is depressurized (according to manufacturer's instructions), remove gauge, then canner's lid.
• Remove jars using tongs, and let cool; you may hear the lids ping, a sign that vacuum sealing has occurred. After 6 hours, check each lid to make sure it is concave (another sign that it's vacuum sealed), then remove screw-top band, and try to remove lid with your fingertips. If you can't, seal is tight. Label and date jars, then store in a cool, dark, dry place up to 1 year (after opening, succotash can be refrigerated up to 1 week). Before using, check to see if lid is still concave; if it isn't, discard.

OLD-FASHIONED SUCCOTASH RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook bacon in large skillet on medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon with slotted spoon; drain on paper towel. Cook and stir onions in reserved bacon drippings until tender.
• Add lima beans and water; stir. Cook 5 min. or until beans are just tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in corn, milk, butter and vinegar. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 10 min. Stir in bacon. Season with the salt and pepper.

BEST-EVER SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Place lima beans in a medium saucepan, and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce to medium-low, and simmer until beans are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• While beans simmer, place bacon slices in a large cast-iron skillet over medium. Cook until crisp, about 8 minutes, turning once after 5 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels; crumble and set aside. Reserve drippings in skillet.
• Add chopped onion, fresh okra, and garlic to skillet over medium, and cook, stirring often, until onion is just tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in fresh corn kernels, salt, pepper, and drained beans, and cook, stirring often, until corn is tender and bright yellow, 5 to 6 minutes. Add butter, and cook, stirring constantly, until butter is melted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Stir in halved cherry tomatoes and sliced basil; sprinkle with crumbled bacon, and serve immediately.

SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Place lima beans and 1 slice bacon in a medium saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn the heat to medium-low and simmer until the beans are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the beans and set aside. Discard the bacon.
• Meanwhile, add the remaining bacon to a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, turning occasionally, until crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove the bacon to a plate or bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in the skillet with the bacon fat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the corn and the garlic and season with salt and pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon of each). Cook until the corn is just barely cooked, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the okra and cook until tender, another couple of minutes. Add the tomatoes and drained beans and continue to cook until the corn is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice, then taste for seasoning.
• Chop the reserved bacon and sprinkle on top along with the chopped parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in lima beans and salt, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan heat tomatoes, sugar and remaining 1/2 cup butter. Cook until tomatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Stir tomatoes into lima beans and add corn; cook 10 minutes more.

SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Soak lima beans in cold water overnight.
• Cook lima beans in 4 times their volume of salt water, covered, over high heat for 40 minutes (test their tenderness and cook 15 more minutes if necessary).
• Plunge immediately in very cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.
• Cook the corn kernels in 3 times their volume of salt water, covered, over high heat for 20 minutes.
• Plunge immediately in very cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.
• Brown lima beans and corn in 1/3 cup (80ml) of olive oil over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool.
• Mix the corn, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, peppers, jalapeño, basil, tarragon, and scallions.
• Dressing
• Whisk together all the ingredients except the oil.
• Pour oil slowly, whisking constantly. Pour over vegetables and mix.
• Serve cold or at room temperature.

CHEF JOHN'S SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion with a pinch of salt in hot butter and oil until onion is softened and slightly golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Add red bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic; cook and stir until peppers are fragrant and softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir tomatoes, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into onion mixture; cook and stir until heated through, 1 to 3 minutes. Add zucchini, green beans, water, and a pinch of salt; cook until zucchini are almost tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir corn and lima beans into zucchini mixture until heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes more. Season with salt.

SIMPLE SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Place lima beans and corn in a small saucepan. Add just enough water to cover, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the beans are tender.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add onion and bell pepper and sauté until soft, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute or until fragrant. Add tomatoes and sauté until hot.
• Drain beans and corn and add to skillet. Add lemon juice, salt, black pepper and basil. Toss to combine and serve hot.

FAST SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• In a large skillet fry bacon until crispy and remove to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving fat in pan. To the skillet add the bell pepper and garlic and cook until softened slightly, about 5 minutes. Add corn, lima beans, pearl onions, hot sauce and cream. Bring to a simmer and cook until vegetables are thawed and tender. Stir in reserved bacon and season with salt and pepper.

EASTERN SHORE SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Put the beans in a saucepan and add water just to cover and lightly salt the water.
• Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until the beans are barely tender, about 12 to 18 minutes.
• Shuck the fresh corn.
• Using a chef's knife held at the diagonal, scrape the kernels off the two ears of corn.
• Add the corn to the beans and simmer for ten more minutes.
• Remove from heat, season with butter, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Eat immediately.
• Summer on the Chesapeake.

DOWN-EAST SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons fat from skillet. Return skillet to medium heat. Add shallots; sauté 3 minutes. Stir in corn, lima beans, Turkey Stock and fresh tarragon. Cook uncovered until lima beans are tender and most of stock evaporates, stirring often, about 14 minutes. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Add bacon and tomatoes. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.