Ultimate Great Northern Beans Recipes

THE ONCE AND FUTURE BEANS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250 degrees F.
• Soak beans in a plastic container overnight in just enough cold water to submerge them completely.
• Place a cast iron Dutch oven over medium heat and stir in the bacon, onion, and jalapenos until enough fat has rendered from the bacon to soften the onions, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, dark brown sugar, and molasses.
• Drain the beans and reserve the soaking liquid. Add the drained beans to the Dutch oven. Place the soaking liquid in a measuring cup and add enough vegetable broth to equal 4 cups of liquid. Add the liquid to the Dutch oven and bring to a boil over high heat. Add in cayenne, black pepper and salt. Give them a stir and cover with the lid. Place the Dutch oven in the oven for 6 to 8 hours, or until the beans are tender.

ULTIMATE GREAT NORTHERN BEANS

Steps:

• Soak the beans in cold water overnight. Make sure that there is twice as much water as beans because they will swell up.
• In a large cooking pot, pour in the cooking oil and toss in the smoked jowl pieces. Stir and allow them to sizzle over medium heat for 5 or 6 minutes. After they brown a bit, deglaze the pot with about 4 ounces of the chicken broth.
• Add the onion and allow to simmer until the onion is tender, stirring often.
• Rinse the beans in fresh water a final time and, after draining, add them, plus all the remaining ingredients into the pot. This should include the 48 ounces of water listed in the ingredients.
• Boil, covered, over low heat until beans are tender, stirring occasionally (about 2-3 hours).
• Serve with cornbread, fried potatoes, eggs and biscuits.
• If you wish, you can use chunks of ham or bacon instead of pork jowl.

GREAT NORTHERN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir carrots and celery into the onion mixture. Pour vegetable broth into the stockpot; add potato, bay leaves, basil, sea salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 20 minutes.
• Stir beans into the soup; continue simmering until the beans are hot and tender, about 20 minutes more.

SAVORY AND SPICY NORTHERN BEANS (QUICK AND EASY!)

Steps:

• In a large pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes and saute for 2-3 minutes on medium until slightly soft.
• Add the beans, parsley, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Increase heat to medium high and cook for about 4-5 minutes. While they are cooking, mash about half of the beans with a fork until they reach the consistency that you prefer.
• If you would like, you can garnish with some additional olive oil and ground pepper.