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There are many types of baked bean recipes hailing from different regions. Each region has its own typical specialty, such as Jersey bean crock, Boston baked beans, Guernsey bean jar, Cassoulet, New England baked beans or Quebec-style baked beans. Each recipe has its own unique ingredients.

There are also different ways to cook the baked beans, which are actually stewed in a sauce rather than baked, though they can be made in the oven.

Beanhole beans are traditionally from Northern New England and Quebec and are cooked in a fire pit in the ground for two days. British cuisine serves beans on toast as a teatime favorite, and beans cooked in a barbecue sauce are served as a traditional side dish at barbecues in the United States.

Boston baked beans are traditionally made with dried navy beans baked slowly with molasses and salt pork for a dark, rich, flavorful sauce.

Homemade Baked Beans, Boston Style

Ingredients

• 2 pounds dried navy beans
• 2 teaspoons salt (for soaking beans)
• ½ lb. lean salt pork, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 onions, sliced
• 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 2/3 cup molasses
• 3 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• 1/8 cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

1. Pick over the beans, removing any bad beans.
2. Rinse the beans.
3. Cover beans with 3 quarts cold water and soak 12 to 18 hours in refrigerator or other cool place.
4. Add 2 teaspoons salt to the soaking water. Bring to a boil.
5. Cover the pot and simmer over low heat until skins begin to crack. Drain, saving the liquid.
6. Put the beans into a crockpot or bean pot.
7. Add pork and onions.
8. Mix remaining ingredients together and stir into pot along with 4 cups of the liquid that the beans were cooked in. If you don't have enough liquid, add water to make 4 cups.
9. Pour over the beans.
10. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 3½ hours. Add water, if needed, as the beans cook to keep the beans soupy.