Comments on: Hutterite Bean Soup

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:02:51 +0000

Have never heard of Hutterite beans and the recipe is nothing like the bean soup we make. I am a Huterite. Where did you here about this?

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:48:39 +0000

Interesting observation of what some people think about the Hutterites. I have noted that many seed catalogs offer “Hutterite soup bean” with a lot of misinformation saying that the Hutterites came to the US in the 1700′s! They were in Russia in the 1700′s and didn’t come to US until the 1870′s, all of them coming to South Dakota.
I have lived among Hutterites all my life. I know of none of them using or raising this bean, however, they may have brought it to the US> I have a collection of a number of seeds that they brought from Russia but the seed survived only because the Hutterisch Mennonites kept it alive, not the communal Hutterites. The Hutterites themselves have very readily accepted techknowlegy and modern farming, buying hybrid seeds for their gardens.
I have eaten at a Hutterite colony 175 days a year for the past twenty some years. I know their bean soup is *not* made with the above recipe nor is it made with “Hutterite Soup Beans” but with regular white navy beans.
If you want to know more about Hutterite culture, please visit my website.

By: Philip Waldner

Philip Waldner — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:20:11 +0000

As one raised on a Hutterite colony I am suprised that I have never heard of Hutterite bean soup or Hutterite beansfor that matter. From your image though, I must say that your beans look an awfull lot like the ones we had when I was growing up but to my knowledge they were not specifically Hutterite beans. We grew ours in the communal gardens and every family received a share of beans to clean and sort for the communal kitchen. We ate them quite simply: boiled in water and seasoned to taste.
All this talk of food is making me hungry! Where can I get some of these wonderful beans?

By: Carol Cody

Carol Cody — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:47:46 +0000

I just got some Hutterite beans and was looking for a soup recipe. Where I live there are tons of Hutterite colonies. I get some of my veggies from them. I ask the ones that I go to the most and they, strangely enough, had never heard of it. I will share some of my “seeds” next year. They are totally amazing people! Are almost as self sufent as the Amish, but use modern convencies. I am anxious to get my beans in the ground and try this recipe!! I found you by putting in the Hutterite Looking forward to trying it.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:05:39 +0000

Becky, I found your blog while looking for something called Refugee Beans. Did not find it but yours is much better I am sure.
I make Bean dished for 50-100 people at the Soup Kitchen, in Red Deer Alberta Canada. I hope it is OK to copy your work off for our crew. We do Vegan when possible, but mostly Veggitarian.
I am very interested in finding these unusual bean seeds to grow here in my garden, as I have been doing this for years, growing shell beans to share with others. I also am a Seed Saver and Organic too. Thank you for your help tonight.
Maggie.

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:29:15 +0000

Hi Andrew,

It’s fascinating, the search terms that are pulling up my blog! I don’t know how the mind of Google works sometimes (though I can see the bay leaf part)! I’m glad you found the site — let me know if you make the soup.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:36:09 +0000

Hi, I found your blog via Google while searching for BAY LEAF and your post regarding Hutterite Bean Soup looks very interesting for me.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:09:42 +0000

Hi Fordalpha,

I’m glad you’re enjoying the posts! If you try any of the recipes, I’d love to know your results. And yes, it is a pun. Since part of the point I’m making is that we have this gorgeous stock of beans available to us, it seemed fitting.

By: xmomx

xmomx — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:00:34 +0000

Mmmm, creamy, buttery melt-in-your-mouth beans? All the benefits of a vegetable with all the comfort-food satisfying characteristics of a rich, fatty dairy food? Hooray!! I just may have to try this!

By: fordalpha

fordalpha — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:25:52 +0000

As a great fan of beans in all their forms and varieties, I have enjoyed reading your posts. But I wonder, shouldn’t it be “beanstalk”? Unless you intend a pun?