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This classic bean dish gets its flavor from molasses, bacon, brown sugar, and mustard. Plan ahead to soak the beans overnight.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 (16-ounce) package navy or pea beans
  • 6 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 pound bacon, diced
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preparation:

In a large pot, soak navy or pea beans overnight in 6 cups water. Next day, drain beans and return to pot. Add another 6 cups water and baking soda. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain in a colander over a large bowl; reserve liquid.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In an ungreased bean pot or large casserole dish, combine beans, bacon, and onion. Add molasses, salt, brown sugar, ground mustard powder, pepper, and a cup of reserved liquid; stir until well blended. Cover bean pot or casserole dish.

Bake, covered, 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Add remaining liquid and stir again. Bake another 1-1/2 hours or until beans are tender. Uncover last 30 minutes of baking. Remove from oven and serve.

Yield: 8 servings

Source: What's Cooking America by Linda Stradley and Andra Cook (Falcon Publishing)
Reprinted with permission.

User Reviews

 4 out of 5
Not authentic, but delicious anyway!, Member 2cookiemonsters

True what the other reviewer said about the cooking time - and I knew that as I read the recipe. The beans have a full rich flavor and I have never had a guest be disappointed with them when served. The amounts of molasses, brown sugar, mustard and onion are very well balanced and I actualy prefer the taste of bacon to the salt pork - it's smokier, but I also go to the butcher to get mine. Just follow the cooking advice of the previous reviewer (or you can use canned beans and cook for 2-3 hours to let the flavors seep into the beans) and you'll have a very tasty dish - not true Boston Baked beans, but delicious anyway!

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