The Best Baked Beans Ever

Recipe Difficulty: Easy

Recipe Tags:

• Vegan Baked Beans
• Best Ever Baked Beans
  
• Chipotle Baked Beans
  
• Sweet n Smoky Baked Beans
  
• BBQ Baked Beans
  
• Beans and Brown Bread

My Vegan Baked Beans Recipe Notes
Baked Beans!!!! Baked beans are something I grew up with. I don't think my mums would have been vegan friendly, but my version of course is. These baked beans are sweet and smoky and I love them along side a loaf of my mums recipe for oatmeal brown bread. To give my baked beans their smoky flavour without using pork, I use three different ingredients. Liquid smoke, chipotle in adobo & smoked paprika. My logic is that it will give the final dish more complexity than if I just used one of the ingredients. This was an easy choice because I always have these things on hand. I use smoked paprika in many recipes on my blog. Chipotle in adobo I use in my black bean chili. Liquid smoke I use to make Coconut Bacon in my Caesar Salad. 

As you can see in the image, also served them with some veggie sausage, and slow roasted tomatoes. I typically eat this meal for dinner, but I think you could definitely turn it into a big breakfast or brunch!

Recipe. Vegan Baked Beans with Chipotle & Maple

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dried white beans
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• a pinch or two of chili flakes
• 1 x 796 ml can whole tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup maple
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp liquid smoke
• 2 tsp chipotle in adobo sauce **
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp salt (start with, then add more to taste at the end if desired)

​** I buy cans of La Costena chipotle in adobo sauce, puree the contents, and keep it in a jar in the fridge for adding to recipes. It keeps for months, and it's great in so many things. I use it in soups, dips, and sauces predominantly. Stir a bit into your vegan eggs (or eggs if you aren't vegan) before scrambling along with chopped green onion, cheese and tomato. Make a smoky salsa to dip chips into, stir it into sour cream....the possibilities are endless. 

Method:

1. Soak beans overnight in water, or use the quick soak method. Just cover beans with water in a pot, bring to a boil, shut off the heat and let sit for 1 hour. Strain the beans and set aside.
2. In a large pot sauté onion, garlic and chili flakes in a bit of veg oil. 
3. Add in tomatoes, (I use my hands to crush whole tomatoes into chunks...I do this carefully because tomato will go everywhere otherwise) 
4. Add remainder of ingredients, bring to a simmer.
5. Place in 350F oven. I baked mine for 4 hours, checking half way through. It's possible you'll need to add a splash more water at some point if everything has reduced and thickened before the beans are softened. (some ovens undoubtedly run hotter than others) 
6. Ideally, serve them with homemade oatmeal brown bread and whatever other sides you'd like.

More Delicious Comfort Food: Try my Red Wine Braised Lentils with Mushrooms & Rosemary over Creamy Mashed Potatoes.