Description
Comforting British Baked Beans dance with savory tomato sauce and hearty navy beans, creating a classic British breakfast staple. Warm, rustic flavors invite you to savor this simple yet satisfying dish straight from traditional English kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Beans:
- 2 cups (473 ml) dried navy beans (haricot beans) or 3 (14 ounces / 397 grams) cans cooked navy beans
- Water, for cooking (if using dried beans)
Sauce and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (use a vegan version if needed)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable stock or water
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) brewed tea
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (for a little heat)
Instructions
- Soak dried beans overnight in cold water, then drain and rinse thoroughly. For those using canned beans, rinse completely under cool running water to remove excess sodium.
- Heat olive oil in a sturdy saucepan over medium temperature, creating a warm cooking environment.
- Gently introduce chopped onions to the pan, allowing them to soften and become translucent, releasing their sweet aromatics for approximately 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic to the onions, stirring quickly to prevent burning and enabling the garlic to release its fragrant essence for about 60 seconds.
- Combine tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, mustard powder, and vegetable stock into the saucepan.
- Reduce heat and let the mixture simmer, watching as the sauce gradually thickens and the ingredients meld together, which typically takes 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate the prepared beans into the sauce, ensuring each bean is generously coated with the rich, flavorful liquid.
- If the mixture appears too dense, introduce a small amount of water to achieve desired consistency.
- Allow the beans to gently simmer for 10-15 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and promote even flavor distribution.
- Remove from heat when the sauce has reached a perfect, glossy texture and the beans are heated through completely.
Notes
- Soak dried beans overnight to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility, ensuring a creamy, tender texture.
- Rinse canned beans thoroughly to remove excess sodium and improve flavor clarity.
- Experiment with different bean varieties like cannellini or navy beans for unique taste profiles and nutritional variations.
- Make the dish vegetarian-friendly by using vegetable stock and ensuring all ingredients are plant-based.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes (if using dried beans) or 20 minutes (if using canned beans)
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg