Better Than Classic Baked Beans

Agrodolce. An Italian term that translates to “sour-sweet,” it’s one of the most beautiful words in any language and one of the most powerfully memorable flavors in any culinary tradition.

It’s that gorgeous combination that describes the tingly juxtaposition of lime and coconut milk in a good Thai curry, the happy marriage of honey and soy sauce on a drumstick of Korean fried chicken, and the unexpected pleasure of a pickled cherry.

Yet it’s also the key to something far less exotic that even the most food-fearful probably eat with abandon: classic American barbecue.

That distinct tang of vinegar mixed with brown sugar, a little molasses, maybe a bit of mustard–that’s as classically agrodolce as the classic Italian condiment itself.

And American agrodolce finds its pinnacle, its perfect display pedestal, in the following recipe for baked beans.

These are not heat-and-serve beans from a can. These are the Blu-Ray version to the VHS pork n’ beans we’ve become accustomed to.

Never made baked beans from scratch? Think they’re not worth the effort? You’ll barely break a sweat with these and be handsomely rewarded.

Adapted from a recipe in Food & Wine, I’ve replaced the long prep time for dried beans with the quick peel-and-drain ease of canned beans.

Though I love sinking my teeth into the offerings of Rancho Gordo and other heirloom beans, a quality canned brand will soak up the fragrantly pungent sauce and get you a casserole’s worth of baked beans in about an hour.

However, if you’re willing to wait a little longer once the beans are off the stove burner, there’s a big payback in delaying the gratification.

Like a braise or a slow-cooked stew, the best time to eat these baked beans is the day after you make ’em.

Chill the finished baked beans in the fridge overnight, and the beans will soak up even more of the intensely flavored sauce.

What smelled too, too much–overly vinegary, overpoweringly spicy–when the ingredients first hit into the saucepan has time to meld into a smooth and mellow yet still tangy sweetness.

Make no mistake, these beans are still a hot bowl of filling comfort when they come off the stove burner, but they’re really genius when eaten cold the next day.

Stovetop Baked Beans

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Baked beans showcase the perfect blend of tangy and sweet flavors in this recipe for the classic American dish. And yes, they're vegetarian.

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Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, minced
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard (mustard powder)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 pound dried cannellini beans, cooked

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium (5-7 quart) Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat.
2. Stir in the onion and cook until deeply softened and translucent but not browned, about 8-10 minutes. 
3. Raise the heat to medium. Stir in both vinegars, molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer.
4. Stir in the beans and continue to cook uncovered until the liquid comes back to a simmer.
5. Cover and continue to simmer for 45-60 minutes more, until the beans have absorbed some of the liquid and the remaining liquid has thickened slightly. 
6. Serve warm, or cool and refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 days. 
7. Reheat in a 350-degree oven or over medium-low heat before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 822Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1028mgCarbohydrates: 152gFiber: 25gSugar: 54gProtein: 39g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate.

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