Home-Cooked Boston Baked Beans with a Twist
Cooked Beans from Boston's Oven
Taking a page from Beantown's culinary history, but with a modern twist, this recipe elevates the classic baked beans with a hint of rum! Simmer these tantalizing beans slowly, and you'll find yourself savoring an irresistible blend of sweet molasses, smoky bacon, and a zesty kick from the rum. Here's how to prepare the cherished American dish with your own hands.
For Your Kitchen:
- Yield: 8 - 10 mouthwatering servings
- Difficulty: Easy-peasy!
- Total Time: 25 minutes, combined with soaking and cooking time
- Active Time: Just 25 minutes
Say goodbye to canned beans, because in this recipe, you'll learn to cook Boston Baked Beans that would put any Boston restaurant to shame! Don't forget to use a bean pot, if you've got one, or make do with your trusty slow cooker.
Your Shopping List:
- 4 cups dried navy or pea beans (approximately 2 lbs)
- 2 cloves
- 1 medium onion
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 lb slab bacon (rind removed, cubed into 1/4-inch pieces)
- 1 1/2 cups rich, dark molasses (ensure it's not blackstrap molasses)
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- Plenty of freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons dark rum
Let's Get Cooking!
- Soak the beans overnight in a large bowl with plenty of water, ensuring the beans are submerged by about 3 inches.
- Preheat the oven to 275°F and place a rack in the bottom third.
- Drain the soaked beans, placing them in a large (6-quart) Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Add fresh water to cover the beans by an inch. Pop the cloves into the onion and add the onion into the pot, along with the baking soda. Stir to combine the ingredients.
- On the stovetop, bring the beans to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, then skim off the foam that rises to the surface. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the bacon, molasses, ground mustard, kosher salt, black pepper, and rum to the beans. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Transfer the pot to the preheated oven and bake slowly until the beans are tender, which should take around 5 - 6 hours. Feel free to add more water if necessary, and switch off the oven for the final 30 minutes of baking to let the top of the beans develop a delightful, slightly crusty texture. Serve hot!
This recipe was featured in our St. Patrick's Day-inspired Irish Breakfast menu. Satisfy your taste buds with our Slow Cooker Baked Beans recipe and our Slow Cooker Ranch-Style Pinto Beans recipe as well!
Historic Tidbits:
Boston Baked Beans have a storied history dating back to Colonial times. The dish is customarily prepared using oven-cooking methods with a slow, low heat for hours on end, creating the famous depth of flavor and texture associated with the dish. However, if you prefer, a slow cooker can be used as an alternative, offering a convenient cooking method while preserving much of the traditional taste.
[1]: Understanding the traditional recipe for Boston Baked Beans. Retrieved March 2023, from link
[3]: The art of preparing Boston Baked Beans in a slow cooker. Retrieved March 2023, from link
- This easy-peasy recipe brings a modern twist to the historic Boston Baked Beans, infusing them with a hint of Irish rum for an irresistible nutritional feast.
- To elevate your kitchen skills, this recipe teaches you how to prepare Boston Baked Beans from scratch, rustling up 8-10 mouthwatering servings that are sure to impress, even in Beantown.
- Plus, with the addition of dark molasses, smoky bacon, and a zesty rum kick, your homemade Boston Baked Beans will bring the taste of Beantown's rich culinary history right to your dining table.
