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“CROCK-POT NEW ENGLAND BAKED BEANS” IS IN:

CROCK-POT NEW ENGLAND BAKED
BEANS
 
Great to bring to picnics and Summer outings as it keeps well for hours. New England style baked beans are normally darker and less sweet than the ones made with tomatoes in the red and white can. Beans are nutritious and economical.

1 quart dry white navy beans
8 oz. lean salt pork
2-3 small white or yellow onions
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon dry mustard (optional)
1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
onion powder, to taste (optional)

Cooks Note: Soaking the beans overnight begins a fermentation process which aids digestion. As the beans absorb water, enzymes inherent in the bean for the purpose of aiding germination are released (germination is the process by which beans sprout and grow into seedlings). These enzymes break down some of the elements in the bean which are indigestible.

There is a common practice in recent times, to bring the beans to a boil for a few minutes before allowing them to soak to speed up rehydration, but this terminates the germination process and prevents natural fermentation which helps make beans digestible! We recommend against this par-boiling.

Preparation:

Pick over and wash one quart of white beans and soak them overnight in cold water. (Do not use salt or beans will be tough).

In the morning, rinse beans with fresh water and add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, adding enough water to keep them covered as needed.

Simmer beans over low heat until the skins begin to split; drain and put them into the Crock-Pot.

Score 8 oz. lean salt pork by slicing through nearly to the rind to create 1/2 inch squares; leaving salt pork attached to the rind. Put salt pork on top of the beans.

Cooks Note: If sliced salt pork is available, this may be used as a convenience.

Slice 2-3 small onions and stir in along with two teaspoons of salt, two tablespoons of molasses and 1 teaspoon Coleman's dry mustard (optional). For sweeter beans, add a tablespoon of honey or brown sugar, if desired.

Add enough water to just cover the beans. Cover and bake slowly on lowest setting until beans are tender (about 8 hours). Replace water as needed to keep beans covered until near the end of the cooking time when the cover should be removed to allow excess water to cook off (once uncovered, stir often).

Season to taste with salt and optionally, onion powder, before serving. Some like to serve this dish with kielbasa or brats, ketchup and chopped onions.

Submitted by: CM

recipe reviews
Crock-Pot New England Baked Beans
 #2635
 Carm says:
This recipe was perfect. Flavor and texture was great. Not too thick and not drippy. 5 stars! cb
   #106351
 Charlotte Blier (New York) says:
This is a great recipe. I used Great Northern Beans and doubled the recipe for a backyard feast. The pot was empty! Everyone loved them.
 #128496
 HotFlash (Ontario) says:
I have found that soaking dried beans overnight in whey (left over from making cream cheese, etc.) really helps with the, um, degasification process. I have read that the enzymes found in naturally fermented foods help to break down the beanie stuff so that, um, we don't have to. Any naturally fermented product would probably do, eg, a spoonful of natural yoghurt or natural saurkraut juice in the soaking water. Maybe even kombucha, never tried that though, or even a cap of bacillus acidofilous.

 

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