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Authentic Boston Baked Beans Recipe
Boston, United States of America
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We strongly advise you to read the cooking tips before jumping to the recipe though
Introduction & history
This New England staple is made with white beans, such as Navy beans or yellow eye beans, molasses, salt pork, and mustard. To prepare, the presoaked beans are mixed with the remaining ingredients and then slow-cooked overnight. Traditionally, the beans would have been cooked in a clay pot in an ember-filled hole in the ground. However, in today's recipes, to cut on time, beans are typically either boiled or simmered until softened or cooked, then mixed with the remaining ingredients in either a casserole or a Dutch oven and slow-cooked in the oven anywhere from four to eight hours, depending on the recipe. Although not traditional, sugar is also often included in the ingredients, as well as onion, pepper and other aromatics which add deep, complex flavor to the dish. If cooked to perfection, Boston baked beans will have a caramelized crust on top and underneath a thick stew of beans coated in a glaze-like sauce. Serve the beans with Boston brown bread, relish, pickles, or coleslaw,... Read more
Cooking tips
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beans
The bean of choice is a small white bean such as Navy bean, yellow eye bean, York state bean, or California pea bean. To cut on cooking time, soak the beans in salted water for at least a few hours, but best overnight. The following day, simmer them until completely cooked, or at least partially cooked. -
salt pork
If the piece of salt pork you use is completely white, meaning there is no muscle in it at all, you will need to cut on the amount slightly, or you will end up with greasy beans. Also, wash off any excess salt that is visible on the salt pork or your baked beans will be too salty. -
molasses
To make it easier to mix, dilute the molasses with water or leftover bean-cooking liquid before you add it to the beans. -
method
The traditional preparation method, which also produces the best results, is to soak the beans overnight, then mix them with the remaining ingredients and slow-cook them for about 12 hours in a 250°F oven. However, there are also other, less time-consuming, methods that produce equally satisfying results. If you cook the beans beforehand, you will cut on time significantly. All you need to do then ... Read more -
equipment
Traditionally baked in a clay pot, Boston baked beans can also be baked in a Dutch oven, a casserole, or a baking tray. -
serving
When eating, if you find that the baked beans are too sweet, pour a splash of vinegar on top to balance the flavors.
Recipe variations
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Durgin-Park Boston Baked Beans
Ready in 6h 30minThe following Boston baked beans recipe is more than 150 years old. It is courtesy of Durgin-Park restaurant in Boston, a historic eatery that's been in operation for more than 200 years, now unfortunately permanently closed. The recipe calls for California pea beans or York beans, salted pork, molasses, onion, sugar, mustard, and seasonings. For baking, use either one six-quart or two three-quart baking pots.
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19th Century Boston Baked Beans
Ready in 5h 20minThe following is a straightforward 19th-century Boston baked beans recipe, which calls for very little seasoning, just salt pork, sugar, molasses, and salt, with optional mustard. The beans, Navy beans in this case, are first cooked, then layered in a crock pot with other ingredients and baked for 5-6 hours. The recipe is adapted from the 1896 Boston Cooking-School Cook Book by Fannie Merritt Farmer.
Durgin-Park Boston Baked Beans
PREP 20min
COOK 6h 10min
READY IN 6h 30min
The following Boston baked beans recipe is more than 150 years old. It is courtesy of Durgin-Park restaurant in Boston, a historic eatery that's been in operation for more than 200 years, now unfortunately permanently closed. The recipe calls for California pea beans or York beans, salted pork, molasses, onion, sugar, mustard, and seasonings. For baking, use either one six-quart or two three-quart baking pots.
Ingredients
2 pounds beans – California pea beans preferred or York State beans
1 pound salt pork (or bacon)
8 tbsp sugar
2/3 cup molasses
2 tsp dry mustard
4 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 medium-sized onion
Preparation
Step 1/5
The night before, place the beans in a pot of water to soak overnight.
Step 2/5
In the morning, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the pot, then boil the beans for 10 minutes. Drain, and while still in the colander, wash under cold running water.
Step 3/5
Cut the salt pork into 1-inch cubes. Arrange half of the salt pork and the whole onion on the bottom of a baking pot or a casserole dish. Add the beans to the pot, and top them with the remaining half of the bacon.
Step 4/5
Mix the remaining ingredients with hot water then pour it over the beans so that they are covered.
Step 5/5
Bake in a 300°F oven for six hours. Check on the beans from time to time and add more water if necessary, but just so they are moist at all times.
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