Baked beans on toast have been a staple meal for many as a lunch or a light dinner, easy to make, has health benefits and is extremely filling. Why not jazz it up a bit? You only need a few extra ingredients to make it, and it will change how you have beans on toast for the better. Your fry ups will be 100x better in flavour and the extra kick of chilli gives you a great boost to start the day.
Making your own baked beans is much more beneficial for health as most canned beans contain high amounts of sugar, whereas this recipe does not call for much sugar at all. Baked beans originated in North America and were adopted in the 17th century by the English colonists.
Ingredients
- Onion (half)
- Tomato puree (1 tbsp)
- Smoked paprika (1/4 tsp)
- Thyme (1/4 tsp)
- Light brown sugar (2 tsp)
- Garlic cloves (2)
- Soy sauce (1 tbsp)
- Chilli powder (1/4 tsp)
- Cannellini beans in (400g)
- Passata (100g)
Method
Begin by finely chopping the onion and garlic, add to a pan with the olive oil and cook until the onions are translucent. Add in the paprika, tomato puree, thyme, chilli powder, sugar and soy sauce and mix them into the onions. Drain and rinse the beans. Add them into the sauce and mix until covered.
Pour in the passata and pop the toast on the grill. When the sauce has thickened, pour over buttered roast and season with optional salt and pepper or cheese.
Smoky BBQ beans: Frequently asked questions
Homemade baked beans vs canned beans?
This homemade baked beans recipe will taste a lot different in comparison to canned beans. The canned variety is very sweet and will likely have about 20 grams of sugar per tin whereas these homemade beans contain about 8 grams of sugar. You have more control over the flavour as you can use herbs and spices that you like.
Why do British people like baked beans?
The original baked bean and pork sausages in a tin became popular during world war 2 although the meat was removed and it became vegetarian since the country was rationing meat. As a kid it was common to have baked beans on toast for lunch or an easy dinner as it is a high fibre ready meal in a can that is quick and easy to make. Baked beans are even delicious eaten cold.
What are the best toppings for BBQ baked beans?
Cheese is one of the most popular toppings for baked beans, you can use any type you like but the best are cheddar, mozzarella, feta or parmesan. Chilli sauce, tobacco sauce or chill flakes can be nice to add on top if you like a bit of heat, and another popular addition is Worcester sauce which adds a tanginess to the dish. During my teens, I loved adding butter to the beans with Worcester sauce and cheese but lets not overdo it!
