Baked Beans

[CarolineW]

Name of Recipe:  Baked Beans
Number of People:
Ingredients:
Haricot Beans/ pinto beans / black eye Beans
A small potato, peeled and halved
2 cherry tomatoes
3 cloves of garlic, skins on
2 bay leaves
A stalk of rosemary and some stalks of thyme


Preparation:
1.  Put beans to soak overnight / while at work (8-12 hours).  Drain and rinse
2.  Add all ingredients to pot with water to cover.  Bring to boil and cook for 45 mins (or until tender).  Alternatively, cook in slow cooker for 2-3 hours on hight, or all day on low.
3.  Drain, reserving liquid.  Remove all the other ingredients, just leaving the beans.
4.  Squish the tomatoes out of their skins into the TM bowl, and the same with the garlic cloves.  Add the potato and cooking liquid. Blitz at Speed 5 / 15 seconds.
5.  Add the beans and stir through gently on reverse.  I also added salt and pepper, and tomato puree.  If you aren't happy with consistency,  90oC / /  / 10 minutes or so until it thickens.

I got the recipe from http://www.handbag.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=446529, who in turn got it from the 'new Jamie cookbook' (presumably Jamie Oliver).

I haven't put quantities to beans a) because none were given in the original recipe and b) 'cos I just slapped them in according to what looked right for the max quantity I could do in TM without overtaxing it.  And then thought I should probably double the other ingredients, which I did.  Perhaps it would usually be 400 - 800 g of soaked beans?  And then thought the sauce wasn't tomatoey enough for my taste, so added puree    (I'm very scientific in my approach)


Photos:

Tips/Hints:

[Thermomixer]

I haven't put quantities to beans a) because none were given in the original recipe and b) 'cos I just slapped them in according to what looked right for the max quantity I could do in TM without overtaxing it.  And then thought I should probably double the other ingredients, which I did.  Perhaps it would usually be 400 - 800 g of soaked beans?  And then thought the sauce wasn't tomatoey enough for my taste, so added puree    (I'm very scientific in my approach)

I find it hard sometimes to be scientific/exact about amounts - it is all a matter of taste it and ... if not tomatoey enough... add some more !!!

It is difficult when I try to get exact amounts and then repeat it and it doesn't quite seem the same don't know how or why???

[brazen20au]

thank you caroline 

[UnConundrum]

Interesting recipe.  I've never seen one for baked beans that includes potatoes.  Any idea what it does for the recipe?

[CarolineW]

It thickened the sauce, Warren.  Probably also contributed to flavour, etc, too.

[Thermomixer]

Interesting recipe.  I've never seen one for baked beans that includes potatoes.  Any idea what it does for the recipe?

I have seen a number of recipes with potato added like this to just give body/thickening.  Sometimes in recipes where you think, what the devil have they included potato??  and top chefs too, not just to extend the final product.

[UnConundrum]

I figured it would add some body, but...  hmmm.  What kind of potato?  more of a baker that will fall apart?

[Thermomixer]

I would think the floury ones - some recipes call for them to be grated so they "dissolve" into the mix

[CarolineW]

I used a floury one.  I was very doubtful when I popped it in, but I have to say that it did a very good job.

[brazen20au]

i did a cheat's version of this last night, wasn't fantastic but certainly quick and acceptable! will try the real version sometime when i don't leave it to the last minute to decide what to make lol

http://brazen20au.blogspot.com/2009/02/quick-dirty-baked-beans-tmx-gf.html

[Depome]

I think the starch in the potato becomes a thickener in the sauce...

[CarolineW]

i did a cheat's version of this last night, wasn't fantastic but certainly quick and acceptable! will try the real version sometime when i don't leave it to the last minute to decide what to make lol

http://brazen20au.blogspot.com/2009/02/quick-dirty-baked-beans-tmx-gf.html

Well, that was pretty much my opinion of it too, Brazen.  It was acceptable, and could definitely be tweaked to be improved, but not anything to get massively excited about.  On the other hand, it's quick, easy, healthy and cheap.

I'm looking forward to trying the other baked bean recipe that's been posted recently (sorry, can't remember who posted it).  I'm hoping that's my ideal recipe - or that perhaps a combining of the 2 recipes might be my ideal?   I'll have to experiment and see.