Bean Pie Near You

What is Bean Pie?

A bean pie is a sweet custard pie made of navy beans, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and spices.

Although tightly connected to the Middle East, the bean pie recipe has traveled all around the world. Because of that, this sweet delight is popular in the US, Europe, and many other countries.

If you’d like to learn more about the iconic bean pie and find out where you can get one near you, stick around! We’re going a deep dive into this amazing dessert and also giving out restaurant recommendations!

What is the Story of the Bean Pie?

If you’re a fan of the bean pie, you have the religion of Islam to thank for its invention. More specifically, Elijah Muhammad, the founder of the Nation of Islam.

Back in the 1930s, Elijah advised his followers to throw out unhealthy starches, as well as some meats, out of their diet. The focus was put both on the religious aspects of the decision, but more so on the people’s health.

To meet this demand, people started experimenting with different options. The sweet potato pie was a pretty popular choice at that point, yet it didn’t meet requirements. After a bunch of trial and error, dried beans came into focus. More specifically, navy beans.

Combined with a bit of sugar, some eggs, butter, and a pie crust, navy beans made a pretty great, healthy alternative! Ever since, bean pie has been eaten all around the world.

What Does Bean Pie Taste Like?

If you’ve never had a slice of bean pie before, you may be a little bit confused. Beans are, after all, primarily a savory food in the western world, so a sweet version may sound strange.

However, this is not exactly the case.

Beans are actually pretty diverse and neutral. By themselves, beans aren’t either sweet or savory. Because of this, they can be added to any dish ever and adapt to the main flavor. Hence why bean pie works so well!

To prepare the pie, your chef will usually use a pie shell or a homemade pie crust, depending on the restaurant. As for the filling, the navy beans get combined with eggs, milk, and butter. Things like nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract are also added for extra flavor.

Once everything is mixed and ready, the pie goes into a preheated oven until golden brown. Once removed, the pie rests a while to firm up and cool down. After that, it’s ready to be served and enjoyed.

Is Bean Pie Healthy?

As we saw before, the bean pie was introduced as a healthier version of the already-popular sweet potato pie. In that regard, yes, bean pie is a healthy alternative to other, more traditional sweet pies.

A slice of this pie can have anywhere from 300 to 450 calories. This difference is due to the size of the slice as well as the ingredients included. For example, if condensed or evaporated milk is used instead of regular milk, you can expect a higher calorie count. Similarly, if you prefer your pie with a bit of whipped cream on top, the calorie count will rise.

However, given that a slice of chocolate pie, for example, has a minimum calorie count of 550, you can see why bean pie is a better alternative. In addition, when you take into consideration the amount of fiber as well as protein you’re getting in your bean pie, it’s apparent that this dessert is a great choice!

Bean Pie Restaurants Near Me

If you’re craving a piece of bean pie for yourself, we have some amazing restaurant recommendations! Our list is short, so your city may not be included, but you can search our website for bean pie restaurants near you with ease.

As Slice, we’re partnered with hundreds of incredible restaurants across the US, so finding one near you will be easy as pie!

Bravo Pizza is one spot in Philadelphia where you can get a super tasty slice.

In Baltimore, Pizza Man is a great choice.

We hope you liked our overview of the bean pie. We also hope we’ve piqued your interest for the dish and you will give it a try soon, if you haven’t already! Our partners are awaiting your order.

Bon appetit!