Baked Beans A Family Recipe From Chef Patrick O Connell

BAKED BEANS (A FAMILY RECIPE FROM CHEF PATRICK O'CONNELL)

Steps:

• Place beans in a 2 quart saucepan & cover with cool water.
• Soak overnight.
• Drain the beans.
• Cover with fresh salted water, and cook over medium heat until beans are just barely tender.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Stir sugar and bacon into beans with water and place in an oven-proof earthenware crock or bean pot.
• Top with butter and bake, uncovered, in oven for 3 hours.
• If top layer of beans begins to become too dry or begins to burn, cover pot with aluminum foil.
• Serves 4.

THE ULTIMATE BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Special equipment: 4 individual crocks
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the molasses, ketchup, mustard, and chiles in a blender and puree. Scrape that into a big bowl, add the beans and season with salt and black pepper, and gently toss so that the beans are coated with the molasses mixture. Divide the mixture evenly amongst individual crocks. Top each crock with a piece of pancetta, sprig of rosemary and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Bake in the oven until the bacon is browned and fat is rendered, about 25 minutes.

BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, add the chopped bacon and cook over medium heat just until the fat begins to render, about 4 minutes. Add baked beans, ketchup, brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, and honey and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat slightly to maintain a simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until flavors are combined.

CHEF JOHN'S BOSTON BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Soak navy beans overnight in a large bowl with enough water by several inches. Drain and place beans into a large Dutch oven or heavy pot with 6 cups water, baking soda, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and boil for 10 minutes. Drain, saving bean-cooking liquid.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Transfer beans into clean Dutch oven and stir bacon, onion, molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, and black pepper into beans. Pour enough of the hot reserved bean liquid in to cover beans; stir.
• Cover Dutch oven and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Check liquid level and add more of the reserved bean liquid to bring liquid up to cover beans. Return to oven and continue baking until beans are tender and almost all the liquid has been absorbed, about 1 hour.
• Raise oven heat to 350; bake beans uncovered in oven until top develops a flavorful crust, 20 to 30 more minutes.