Baked Beans With Pomegranate Molasses Walnuts And Chard Recipes

OLD FASHIONED FRENCH CANADIAN BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Cover beans with water and soak overnight.
• Rinse beans then bring to a boil in approximately 1 quart of water, bay leaf and garlic - simmer for 30 minutes.
• Turn off heat and let beans stand for approximately 1 1/2 hours until soft. Drain and reserve the bean liquid. Discard bay leaf and garlic.
• Mix together remaining ingredients (excluding beans and bacon).
• Add beans to bean pot (or any covered dish).
• Stir in molasses mixture to beans. Top off with some of the reserved bean liquid.
• Arrange bacon on top.
• Cover and bake at 300 degrees for 7 hours. For the final hour of cooking, remove cover to let bean brown up nicely.
• Note: check occasionally and keep beans covered with reserved bean liquid during cooking.

BAKED BEANS WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES, WALNUTS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Combine the drained beans, bay leaf and water (enough to cover by an inch) in a large, ovenproof casserole or Dutch oven (earthenware is nice) and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until just tender. Check from time to time to make sure the beans are submerged and add water if necessary. Remove the bay leaf.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium-size heavy skillet over medium heat and add the onions. Cook, stirring often, until tender and lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Turn down the heat to low, add a generous pinch of salt, cover and continue to simmer, stirring often, until the onions are dark brown and have melted down to half their original volume, another 15 to 20 minutes. Stir into the beans, along with the pomegranate molasses, tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Place in the oven and bake, covered, for 1 hour. The beans should be very tender. Check from time to time to make sure the beans are submerged; add water as necessary or just press down on the beans to cover them with liquid. (They shouldn't be swimming, though.)
• Uncover the beans, taste and adjust salt, and stir in the Swiss chard. Sprinkle the walnuts over the top and drizzle on the final tablespoon of oil. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes more. Remove from the oven, taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot or warm.

OLD FASHIONED BROWN SUGAR AND MOLASSES OVEN-BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Remove stones from beans, rinsing well in a colander.
• Place beans in a large pan, adding a teaspoon of salt along with enough water to cover contents by 3 inches.
• Over high heat, bring beans to a rolling boil for 2 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat, cover pan and let stand for 1 hour.
• Uncover pan, breing contents back to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender (1 to 1 1/2 hours).
• As necessary, add more water to keep beans well covered.
• Drain beans well, reserving liquid.
• In a 2 1/2 quart bean pot (or casserole) combine molasses, brown sugar, mustard, ketchup and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Add drained beans. Then stir in enough reserved cooking liquid to cover beans.
• Mil well.
• One one side of pot, push whole onion down into beans.
• Cut several gashes in the salt pork and push it down into beans on other side of the pot.
• Cover pot, place in oven and set heat to 350 degrees.
• Bake until beans are bubbling (about 1 hour).
• Reduce heat to 250 degrees and continue to bake for 6 to 8 hours more, stirring every hour or so.
• As beans cook, they will absorb liquid.
• Continue cooking, adding reserved liquid (or water) a little at a time to keep beans moist, but not soupy.
• Baked beans are done when thick and fragrant, with a deep, brownish red color.
• When serving, remove and discard onion, while keeping in sliced salt pork if desired.

OLD-FASHIONED BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring beans, salt and 2 qt. water to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; let stand for 1 hour. Drain beans and discard liquid. Return beans to pan. Cover with remaining water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender. Drain, reserving liquid. In a greased 2-1/2 qt. baking dish, combine beans, 1 cup liquid, onion, molasses, bacon, brown sugar, mustard and pepper. Cover and bake at 325° for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until beans are as thick as desired thickness, stirring occasionally. Add more of the reserved cooking liquid if needed.