Root Beer Baked Beans

By á-3145

Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 large white onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 T minced fresh ginger
• 2 T tomato paste
• 1 (12-ounce bottle) root beer
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons molasses
• 1 T grainy mustard
• Hefty pinch red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon garam masala, store bought or homemade, recipe follows
• 2 (14-ounce cans) cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Details

Servings 4
Preparation time 5mins
Cooking time 70mins
Adapted from foodnetwork.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Set a medium oven-safe pot over moderate heat and add bacon. Cook until most of the fat is rendered out and the bacon is crisp. Prepare a plate with paper towels, and using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pot to the plate. Set about a quarter of the bacon aside, for garnish.

Add the onions, garlic and ginger to the pot, and saute until soft and golden. Add the tomato paste and cook until the tomato paste deepens in color, about another minute.

Next add the root beer, cider vinegar, molasses, grainy mustard, red pepper flakes and garam masala. Stir to combine. Then add the beans and bacon, and gently stir so the beans don't lose their shape. Taste for salt and pepper, then pop into the oven, uncovered, until the mixture thickens, about 30 minutes. Remove the beans from the oven, let it cool slightly, and sprinkle with reserved bacon and serve.