Many variations in GA,SC,NC,and VA
Here is Kathleen Purvis’s family recipe for Brunswick stew. She is the food editor for The Charlotte Observer, but her family roots are in Georgia.
MY FAMILY'S BRUNSWICK STEW
Federal rules may say true Brunswick stew has to have two kinds of meat, but I have a passel of kin in Americus who would be glad to argue. The recipe was passed down from my great-grandmother to my grandfather to my father to me.
4 pounds fresh pork, such as Boston butt
Water
3 (15 1/4-ounce) cans whole-kernel corn, drained
3 (14 1/2-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, drained
2 1/2 large onions, peeled
3 pounds potatoes, peeled
3 (14-ounce) bottles ketchup
1/2 to 1 quart apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon black pepper, or to taste
Salt to taste
Place pork in large pot with lid. Add water about halfway up sides, cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer slowly until fork-tender, about 2 hours.
Remove pork from pot and reserve liquid. When pork is cool enough to handle, cut into large chunks, discarding fat or bone. Working in batches, grind pork, 2 cans corn, tomatoes, onions and potatoes together.
(My grandfather used a food grinder and my father used a blender. I use a food processor - call it progress.)
Return chopped mixture to pot. Stir in remaining can of corn, ketchup, enough apple cider vinegar to make a thick consistency, salt and pepper. Add liquid from cooking pork if stew is too thick.
Place on low to medium-low heat and cook slowly, stirring frequently so it doesn't stick, until potatoes are done, at least 1 hour. Makes ... a lot.
Stew freezes well
Brunswick Stew
Virginia Style
1 pound chopped or shredded pork butt
1 pound chopped or shredded chicken
1 pound beef chuck roast, shredded
1 large onion, chopped
28 oz crushed or diced tomatos, with juice
8 oz (1 small can) of tomato paste
10 oz lima beans, frozen or canned
15 oz of cream style corn
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 oz hot sauce (Texas Pete is traditional in my house)
1 oz Worcestershire sauce
juice of 1 lemon
3 tbls black pepper
2 tbls salt
1/2 tbls Dried red pepper flakes