Phil's Recipes
This site contains affiliate links
Pork & Beans

Pork & Beans

A slow-simmered American-style pork and bean stew with bacon, tomato, and a hint of BBQ sauce. Deep, smoky flavour that only improves overnight.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 2 hr 30 min Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried beans (kidney and another variety), soaked overnight and cooked until tender
  • 2 to 2.5 lb boneless pork shoulder or butt, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 lb bacon, cut into lardons
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 tin (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup water (add more as needed)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chilli flakes (or to taste)
  • BBQ sauce, additional chilli flakes, and vinegar to taste

Instructions

  1. Put the bacon and pork pieces in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook for about 10 minutes until browned. Drain off most of the fat.
  2. Add the diced onion and sauté for 1-2 minutes until softened.
  3. Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, water, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and chilli flakes. Stir to combine.
  4. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook over low heat (or in a 325°F oven) for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Taste and adjust — add BBQ sauce, more chilli flakes, or a splash of vinegar as needed.
  6. Add the cooked beans and simmer for a further 60 minutes.
  7. Remove the lid for the last 20 minutes if the sauce is too liquid.
  8. Serve over rice (see notes for the rice method).

Notes

  • Rice method from the original: 1 cup rice, rinsed until water runs clear. Add 1.75 cups water, bring to boil, add 1 tsp salt. Add rice, simmer 18 minutes without stirring, leave lid on 5 minutes, fluff with fork.
  • Beans: Soaking and cooking dried beans from scratch gives the best flavour and texture. In a pinch, use two cans of kidney or cannellini beans, added in the last 30 minutes.
  • Low and slow: The longer this cooks, the better. Everything melds together beautifully over time.
  • Day two: Even better the next day once the flavours have had time to develop overnight.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Lodge 7-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven Ideal for long, slow braises like this — retains heat evenly and the lid fits tightly View on Amazon

Comments

Comments will be available once Giscus is configured. See the project README for setup instructions.