Basic homemade baked beans

Serves: 6

Time to make: 2 hrs , plus soaking

Ingredients

250g dried cannellini beans, soaked (see tip)
5–6 sage leaves, roughly torn
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
4 large ripe tomatoes, pureed
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
½ cup vegetable stock
2 teaspoons—1 tablespoon soft brown sugarlight brown cane sugarX
1 tablespoon ciderhard ciderX vinegar
2 slices grainy bread per serve, toasted

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Instructions

Stay Awake

1 Place soaked beans in a pan with enough cold water to cover beans by 2.5cm. Add sage and garlic. Cover pan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until beans are soft but still holding their shape.

2 Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a non-stick pan. Add onion and cook until softened. Add tomatoes, paste, herbs, stock and 1/4 cup water. Cook for 10—15 minutes to make a thick tomato sauce. Set to one side until beans are cooked.

4 Once beans are cooked, drain. Return to pan with tomato sauce. Stir in remaining oil, sugar and vinegar. Heat, stirring occasionally, for 10—15 minutes.

5 Taste and season with pepper and a little salt, or add a different flavour (see variations). Serve on top of grainy toast.

Serving suggestion

Try beans on top of baked potatoes instead of toast.

Variations

Make it gluten free: Check tomato paste and stock are gluten free. Use gluten-free bread.

Try these delicious flavour variations!

Mexican-style homemade baked beans
Italian-style homemade baked beans
Moroccan-style homemade baked beans
Indian-style homemade baked beans

HFG tip

For overnight soaking: Soak beans in cold water for at least 12 hours. Drain well and rinse.

For quick soaking: Place beans in a pan and cover with cold water. Cover, bring to the boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and leave to soak in the water for 1 hour. Drain. The beans are now ready to cook.

Once baked, beans will keep for 3-4 days in a sealed container in the fridge.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 439cal

Kilojoules 1840kJ

Protein 19g

Total fat 9g

–Saturated fat 2g

Carbohydrates 70g

–Sugars 11g

Dietary fibre 17g

Sodium 450mg

Calcium 200mg

Iron 6mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.