Veg Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried kidney beans
- 1/2 cup dried cannelini beans
- 1/2 cup dried Great Northern beans
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 T olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 T cumin seeds, toasted
- 1/2 cup crushed canned tomatoes
- 4 ripe plum tomatoes
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- grated rind of 1 orange
- 1/2 T crushed peppercorn
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 water or vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- salt
Instructions
Place beans in a bowl. Cover with cold water by 2 inches, add thyme. and let soak overnight, at least 4 hours. Heat a heavy 2- to 3-quart casserole. Add olive oil. Sautee onion and carrot for about 10 minutes, until onions are translucent and carrot soft. Add pepper, garlic and cumin seeds and cook a few minutes longer. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Drain beans, and add to the casserole, together with tomatoes, maple syrup, brown sugar, bay, orange rind, peppercorn, cilantro and water. Cover, and bring to a slow simmer. Place casserole in oven, and cook for 1 hour. Add cider vinegar and salt. Cook 1 hour longer, until liquid has been absorbed, but the beans are still moist. Adjust seasoning - salt and pepper, and up to 2 more T vinegar. Garnish with additional cilantro.