Jersey ( Old Jersey ) Bean Crock

by Len
(Nerja)

500g/1lb mixed dried beans ( sometimes the beans used are just haricot beans but it is best with a mixture )
500g/1lb belly pork cubed
2 onions
4 bay leaves
Black pepper
Salt

Soak the beans overnight in cold water. If the mixture includes red kidney beans it is important to boil the beans for a least 10 minutes before putting them in the crock pot ( a crock pot is a traditional Jersey pot) you can use a large casserole dish with a lid.

Put the beans, cubed pork and roughly sliced onions into the pot with bay leaves and pepper.

cover with water and cook slowly in a moderate oven for at least 5 hours. Check periodically to see there is still enough water. You want the bean crock to thicken up, but not burn or dry out.

Add salt towards the end of the cooking. Serve with crusty bread and butter.

You can use pork fillet add crushed garlic and use beef stock in stead of just water.

Jersey is an island and forms part of the Channel Islands a 100 miles off the UK coast and appx 15 miles from France. The land which is the state of New Jersey was originally owned by the Carteret family from the island of Jersey.