Northern Family-Style Beans draw on New England’s rich history of making beans the most exciting part of any dinner! The beans are creamy and tender, with plenty of savory flavor to go around. But the secret is slow-cooking them in syrupy, smoky, and sweet molasses with succulent bacon strips to ensure maximum flavor and enjoyment. Whether you eat them on their own or piled on burgers and hot dogs, Northern Family-Style Beans will bring the family to the table in a hurry!
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried navy beans
- water, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 pound sliced salt pork belly or bacon strips, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup rum, can substitute unsweetened apple juice
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
Step 1 –Sort the beans and rinse them under cold water.
Step 2 –Place the beans in a large bowl and add enough of the water to cover them by 2 inches.
Step 3 –Let the beans stand in the water, covered, for at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
Step 4 –Grease a 3-quart slow cooker.
Step 5 –Drain and rinse the beans, discarding the liquid.
Step 6 –Transfer the beans to the prepared slow cooker.
Step 7 –Add the salt and the pork to the slow cooker.
Step 8 –In a small bowl, add the onion, the molasses, the brown sugar, the rum, the ground mustard, and the pepper and stir to combine.
Step 9 –Stir the onion mixture into the beans in the slow cooker.
Step 10 –Cover the slow cooker and cook on low until the beans are tender, about 9-11 hours.
Step 11 –Serve.
