Date-Sweetened Baked Beans

• servings: 6 servings
• active time: 35 minutes
• total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups water

1 cup (5 ounces) pitted dates

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon ground mustard

1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 teaspoon fine salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion (8 ounces), diced

3 (15-ounce) cans navy beans, drained and rinsed

Directions

Step 1

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

Step 2

In a blender, combine the water, dates, vinegar, tomato paste, ground mustard, paprika, salt and pepper, and blend until smooth.

Step 3

In a Dutch oven or other large ovenproof pot over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the beans, then pour the contents of the blender into the pot and stir to combine.

Step 4

Transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, for about 35 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling and the sauce thickens.

Notes

Substitutions

Navy beans >> other white beans, such as Great Northern or cannellini.

Canned beans >> 4 1/2 cups home-cooked beans (see related recipe).

Yellow onion >> white or sweet onion.

Apple cider vinegar >> white wine vinegar or sherry vinegar

Nutrition

• Serving Size: Per serving (generous 3/
• Calories: 317
• Total Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 58 g
• Dietary Fiber: 17 g
• Total Sugars: 19 g
• Protein: 12 g