Bean Hash

July 8, 2013

Plan Z Phase: This is a Z3.5 (ZReboot 3.5) recipe. This is one of the simplest recipes you can make. I almost hesitate to offer it because it is so simple. I haven’t made this in years; I dare say since I was a single. I made it this week. I have been craving comfort food. This recipe harkens back to my childhood. When my father traveled for work, sometimes my mother would let us make a more simple meal than my father would allow. For instance, when Dad was out of town she might let us make French toast for dinner. Dad would never allow that. In the summer when it was hot she might let us just make do with a simple BLT sandwich so she didn’t have to turn on the oven. Dad would have wanted more. And this bean hash was something she’d let us make on occasion, too. I loved it and still do to this day.

My guess is this recipe comes from tough times. When all you have is beef and beans this can make a meal in a bowl. I suspect when it was developed there were a lot more beans than beef in the recipe. In my case, to keep down the carbohydrates, I use a lot more beef than beans but the feeling I get eating it is the same. It just feels comfy. I curled up on the sofa and ate it out of a bowl.

You can jazz it up lots of ways if you don’t want the simple version. I can see my husband putting in hot sauce. You can put in herbs or spices. I can see someone tossing in a can of diced tomatoes too. I just like mine plain.

Servings: Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 pounds of ground beef. Out of habit I still use lean ground beef but you can use whatever your budget and taste allows.
15 oz of baked beans. I use the Campbell’s version that’s very simple. You can use your favorite.

Instructions:

In a large sauté pan lightly spray with olive oil. Add the ground beef. Brown until no pink remains. I regularly cut it up with my spatula so I have just small bites of beef. When the beef is brown add the beans and stir to heat. I love mine with a good grate of sea salt to zip it up. That’s all the spice I need for this dish. Serve in a bowl with a fork and you’re set.

Enjoy!

Cheers,