Slow-Baked Smoky Beans
In short: White beans baked low and slow in a sweet, smoky tomato sauce with maple, mustard and paprika until thick and sticky. Great on toast or with potatoes. It takes about 1 h 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 1 h 40 min
- Total
- 1 h 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 270 kcal
Homemade baked beans taste nothing like the canned kind. White beans go into a sauce of tomato, onion, maple syrup, mustard, vinegar and smoked paprika, and a long spell in a low oven makes it thick, glossy and a little caramelized at the edges. This version uses canned beans, so the oven does all the work with little effort from you. Serve it on toast, with baked potatoes, or beside a sausage-free fry-up.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Warm the oil in a large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and cook the onion for 7 minutes until soft.
- Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, then add the passata, water, maple syrup, vinegar, tamari, mustard, paprika, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer, then stir in the beans. Cover the pot and put it in the oven.
- Bake for 1 hour, then take off the lid, stir and bake for 30 to 40 minutes more, until the sauce is thick and glossy and the surface looks sticky at the edges.
- Remove the bay leaves and taste. Add a splash of vinegar if you want more sharpness, or a pinch of salt if it needs it.
- Rest the beans for 10 minutes, since they thicken as they cool. Serve spooned over toast or baked potatoes.
Tips
- Check on the beans after an hour. If the sauce looks too dry, add a splash of water, and if it is too thin at the end, bake uncovered for 10 minutes longer.
- Use cooked dried beans if you have them, about 600 g (4 cups). A teaspoon of ground cumin or a pinch of cloves will give the sauce a different character.
Questions and answers
How long do homemade baked beans keep?
They keep for 5 days in the fridge and freeze very well for up to 3 months. The flavor improves after a day, once the beans have soaked up the sauce.
Can I make baked beans on the stove or in a slow cooker?
Yes. Simmer them gently on the stove for 40 minutes, stirring often, or cook on low in a slow cooker for 5 to 6 hours with the lid slightly open for the last hour.
What is the best way to serve baked beans?
On toast, with a baked potato, beside a vegetarian breakfast or on top of rice. They are also a good side dish at a barbecue.
How long does it take to make Slow-Baked Smoky Beans?
About 1 h 55 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 1 h 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Slow-Baked Smoky Beans?
About 270 kcal per serving, with 13 g of protein, 47 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 270 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 13 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 13 g |
| Sugar | 21 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
