British Baked Beans
I believe the discovery of homemade varieties of canned food favorites can be attributed to the evolution of cooking shows and the rise of the internet. Making homemade baked beans are so much more delicious! These British baked beans are thick and tomatoey, and much nicer than beans from a tin.
Homemade baked beans don’t have any artificial flavors, and the sauce isn’t slimy like the canned baked beans. Unlike store-bought baked beans, which are usually highly sweetened and bland, the homemade variety is mildly (and naturally) sweetened and full of flavor!
If you enjoy making your own beans from scratch, then you will also love our Southern Black-Eyed Peas, Instant Pot Black Beans, and Instant Pot Pinto Beans.
Health Benefits of Beans
- Beans are high in fiber and protein from plants. They’re also high in thiamine (vitamin B), zinc, and selenium, which help with energy output, improved immunity, and thyroid wellness.
- Legumes, in particular, include phytates, which can obstruct mineral absorption. Cooking and canning, on the other hand, decrease the phytate content in baked beans.
- Beans also contain beneficial plant compounds such as polyphenols. These can protect your cells from damage from free radicals. Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other chronic illnesses have been related to free radical disruption and inflammation.
- For a 2,000-calorie diet, U.S. dietary guidelines prescribe a minimum of 1 1/2 cups (275 grams) of legumes a week due to their nutritional value and connection to a lower risk of chronic disease.
In addition to the nutritional benefits, homemade baked beans are a speedy and tasty way to eat legumes. They also help to improve gut health and may help in lowering cholesterol levels.
British Baked Beans Recipe
- Navy Beans
- Water
- Vegetable Broth
- Onion
- Pink Himalayan Salt
- Molasses
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Ketchup
- Salt
How To Make British Baked Beans?
They’re great for a weekend brunch. When you have time, make up a large batch, and you’ll have your breakfast or brunch ready in no time. British baked beans are simple, quick, inexpensive, and completely addictive!
- Sauce thickness – The beans should be thick enough to layer on top of bread without the sauce pouring all over the pan. If the sauce is too runny, leave it on the burner for a few minutes longer to decrease the fluidity – the sauce reduces easily at the end.
- Beans used – Navy beans or haricot beans are used. They are smaller than cannellini beans. However, some small to medium beans (e.g., cannellini, butter beans, Great Northern, baby lima) would work fine well here. Remember, soaking the beans overnight softens them and cuts down on the time it takes to cook them.
Let’s get to know the ingredients and the best way to make British baked beans!
- Rinse and sort beans; soak according to package directions.
- Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Place in a pot over medium heat, then add beans and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer until beans are tender, for about 1 1/2 hours.
- Once most of the water is evaporated, reduce the flame to low heat.
- Add vegetable broth, onion, garlic, cane sugar, ketchup, and salt to the beans.
- Simmer on low heat for another 15 minutes, or until all the beans are soft.
- Taste and adjust ingredients as required, using more salt for overall taste, cane sugar for sweetness, or molasses for increasing the flavor. Cover the pot with a lid and let cool slightly.
How To Serve Homemade British Baked Beans
British baked beans are traditionally served as a side dish with breakfast or piled onto toast. But there’s a lot more we can do with baked beans to make them a more cost-effective and tasty recipe! Serve for lunch and dinner, and as a side at BBQs and cookouts. Here are a couple of ideas:
- Gluten-Free Vegan Sausages
- Tofu Scramble
- Air fryer Baked Potatoes
- BBQ Tofu Sandwiches
- Vegan Potato Salad
How To Store Baked Beans?
You can refrigerate them for up to 5 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months. If the sauce thickens after freezing, you can add a bit of water when reheating the beans to thin them out.
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British Baked Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup navy beans
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 cup cane sugar and or coconut sugar
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegetable broth
Instructions
- Rinse and sort beans; soak according to package directions.
- Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Place in a pot over medium heat, then add beans and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer until beans are tender, for about 1 1/2 hours.
- Once most of the water is evaporated, reduce the flame to low heat.
- Add vegetable broth, onion, garlic, cane sugar, ketchup, and salt to the beans.
- Simmer on low heat for another 15 minutes, or until all the beans are soft.
- Taste and adjust ingredients as required, using more salt for overall taste, cane sugar for sweetness, or molasses for increasing the flavor. Cover the pot with a lid and let cool slightly.
Question: could I use a sugar substitute in this recipe to make it diabetic friendly? If so, which would you recommend?
Thanks,
Susan
Hello Susan, I haven’t tried it with any sugar substitute. My suggestion would be to leave out the sweetener and cook it without it. Then add a little date syrup at the end.
thank you good method of store baked beans
Never really liked baked beans, but this makes me want to try it in different ways
Peter, I hope you do, this is simple and easy to prepare and you get to control the ingredients.