Beans, beans, beans

Good Food Blog

What is RSS?

Posted at 11:02AM, 03 July 2008 by Jenni Muir - Food writer

Who doesn't love baked beans? Well apparently not everyone. At a food industry conference I attended last week we were talking about the impact of the credit crunch on shopping habits and one delegate commented that a future in which more and more people ate supermarket own-label baked beans was a bleak one indeed.

What rubbish. It's time we ate our baked beans with pride.

Of course, everyone seems to feel as though they have to make fart jokes when talking about baked beans. But they're never as funny as, Blazing Saddles. are they? And Mel Brooks released that back in 1974, so surely now we can move on.

It's time we ate our baked beans with pride.

Baked beans are great grub. They cost around 35p for a 420g can and it takes just three heaped tablespoons to count as one of our five-a-day veg portions. Their fibre and iron content are undeniably healthy, though some nutritionists say it's good to be wary of the sugar and salt content of some varieties. And choosing foods low on the food chain, like beans and other legumes, apparently helps reduce our carbon footprint. So what's not to like?

I often make Boston baked beans Boston baked beans from scratch overnight in the slow cooker, but eat canned beans just as frequently. Encouraging kids to jazz up baked beans is a great way to get them cooking. I remember one of the earliest things I learnt to make was a cross between beans on toast and cheese on toast Ã¢ÂÂ fledgling gourmet or what! I'd grill the bread on one side, then turn it over and spoon on hot baked beans (leaving quite a bit of sauce in the pan), then cover that with finely sliced cheddar and sprinkle it with chopped chives before grilling again. Come to think of it, I don't know why I ever stopped making it.

Top foodie nutritionist Jane Clarke Jane Clarke heartily recommends baked beans in her book Bodyfoods for Busy People, and even suggests serving them with good bread and red wine to friends who come round for supper. IÃ¢ÂÂm not sure I'd have the chutzpah to crack open a can on those occasions, but wouldnÃ¢ÂÂt serving own-made baked beans be fun? And a lot easier than most of the recipes we turn to when guests come over.

Comments

James

3 July 2008, 12:46PM
James

I made some great baked beans earlier in the year - harrcot with tomato sauce I made from tomato insides, the flesh having bee used for oven drying. Reduced to a thick gloop, add harricot beans, onions, fresh oregano, chicken stock, cover and bake in the oven. If they are drying out before being soft add more liquid. You can also add olives, basil, capers etc to make them more Italian and they are great with baked smoked cod or pork or chicken or just on their own. Easy to microwave to heat up. I keep meaning to add the recipe & photo to my blog.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
James

3 July 2008, 1:01PM
James

Fennel seeds would be quite nice in there too. The good thing about serving them when guests come over is they can be made a day or two before and just need heating. I like easy.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
prune boy

4 July 2008, 11:52AM
prune boy

I love baked beans on toast. I even like them cold straight out of the tin on their own. One of my favourite concoctions is baked beans with a drop of sri racha sauce mixed in, on toast with sardines out of tin on the side. strange I know but .... worcester sauce also works very well. long live the baked bean !!!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Jenni

8 July 2008, 9:05AM
Jenni

James is right of course â�� homemade baked beans are great things to make in advance, and some recipes mature (like a fruit cake) so they actually taste better a few days later.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Chris Pakett

8 July 2008, 4:55PM
Chris Pakett

After working away, staying in a four star hotel all week eating my way through the menu, you can't beat beans on toast.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Lucy

9 July 2008, 1:51PM
Lucy

I love beans on toast but find it hard to not eat them straight from the tin. I love them with tabasco sauce and melted cheese on top...YUM!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
catn

10 July 2008, 7:15AM
catn

One of my favourite 'Im not cooking tonight' dinners is baked bean jaffels with nice vintage cheese melted inside and mums homemade tomato sauce on top - heaven! Its funny that I never really of think of baked beans as something to cook - they are the thing to eat when you dont wanna cook - but some of the recipes out there sound yum and really take them to another level!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Gina Hearn

22 July 2008, 8:14AM
Gina Hearn

Am I the only one to think that baked beans are one of the most boring foods on earth? The idea of eating them straight from the tin bemuses me.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
KalliN

7 August 2008, 1:47AM
KalliN

Baked Beans are my true comfort food. You can't beat home-made although Heinz Baked Beans in Ham Sauce are delicious. Add some curry powder...yum!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Carol

11 August 2008, 12:15PM
Carol

Baked beans on toast with a lovely soft yoked fried egg on top. What a treat! Yum, aren't the simple things in life the most enjoyable ?

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
logo design

15 July 2010, 6:25PM
logo design

Thank you very much for posting such valuable information. As i am associated with <a href="http://www.logo-genie.com">Logo Design</a> & <a href="http://www.logo-genie.com/banner-ads-design">Web Banner</a> Business, so i am very well aware of usefulness of the info..

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
jamesjk

11 November 2010, 10:48AM
jamesjk

I love baked beans - quick, easy, cheap, nutritious and delicious! Some good ideas here. Thanks, James.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
jamesjk

11 November 2010, 10:50AM
jamesjk

I love baked beans - quick, easy, cheap, nutritious and delicious! Some good ideas here. Thanks, James@http://www.clickfitpro.com

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons to sign up:

You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
You can add your own recipes to this site for others to try; plus, rate and make comments on recipes, and share your views on our blog.
You can sign up for our weekly newsletter (sent out on Wednesdays) - it's packed with recipes, special offers and competitions.

Search Good Food

Keywords

Refine your recipe search

Search filter options

BBC Good Food

Primary Navigation

Good Food Blog