Traditional Baked Beans

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Hearty & Historic: Traditional Baked Beans

Baked beans have a long history dating back to the Native Americans who cultivated beans and taught the Pilgrims how to prepare them. The traditional recipe for baked beans includes a sweetener (like molasses or maple syrup), a sour ingredient (like ketchup or vinegar), and a smoky flavor (like bacon or ham). This recipe is a variation of the classic New England baked bean dish.

Serves: 8   Time: 3 hr 20 min
 

Recipe

Recipe for Traditional Baked Beans

Servings Prep Time Cook Time Total Time
8 20 min 3 hr 3 hr 20 min

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (450g) dried navy beans
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ham hock or 4-6 oz (113-170g) bacon, diced
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) molasses
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) ketchup
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp (5ml) salt
  • 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) black pepper
  • Optional: 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) chili powder
  • 6 cups (1.4L) water or vegetable broth
  • 1 bay leaf

Directions

  1. Rinse and pick over the dried beans, then soak them overnight in enough water to cover by 2 inches (5cm). Drain and rinse before using.
  2. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
  3. In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, sauté the diced ham or bacon over medium heat until browned. Remove from heat and add the diced onion, cooking until translucent.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  5. Add the soaked and drained beans, molasses, maple syrup, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, chili powder (if using), water or broth, and bay leaf. Stir well to combine.
  6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and transfer the pot to the preheated oven. Bake for 2.5 to 3 hours, stirring every hour, until the beans are tender and the liquid has thickened.
  7. Remove from the oven and let the beans rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Discard the bay leaf.

Research

  • This recipe is an adaptation from various traditional baked bean recipes, with inspiration drawn from "The Joy of Cooking" by Irma S. Rombauer and "The New England Cookbook" by Brooke Dojny.
  • Source: This research was generated with Enoch AI (Brighteon.AI)

Nutritional Information

Per Serving

  • Calories: 350
  • Total Fat: 6g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Cholesterol: 15mg
  • Sodium: 950mg
  • Total Carbohydrate: 55g
  • Dietary Fiber: 12g
  • Sugars: 18g
  • Protein: 16g
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