Smoky Dried-Beef and White Bean Pot with Soft Onions

Smoky dried beef simmers with soft golden onions, white beans, and juniper in a lard-rich broth pot. It echoes Rawhide Bags of Summer, when pemmican packed for fur-trade canoe brigades turned every portage ounce into tomorrow’s strength.

Serves 4

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Ingredients

• 8 oz smoked beef jerky or smoked brisket ends
• 2 (15-oz) cans canned white beans
• 3 medium yellow onions
• 3 cups beef broth
• 3 tbsp lard or bacon fat
• 8 dried juniper berries
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. 1Cut dried beef into small bite-size pieces and thinly slice onions.
2. 2Melt lard in a heavy pot over medium heat then add onions and cook 12 minutes stirring often until very soft and golden.
3. 3Add beef pieces, juniper berries, broth and salt then bring to a simmer.
4. 4Drain and rinse beans and stir them into the pot.
5. 5Cover and simmer gently 20 minutes so flavors meld and beef softens.
6. 6Remove juniper berries before serving the thick smoky pot.