Boston Baked Beans in Bean Pot - Durgin-Park

Nana Lee's Note:

These, of course, are the ultimate Boston Baked Beans! Please take into account they need to soak overnight. You will need a 2 1/2-quart bean pot or covered casserole. Recipe By: Durgin-Park Restaurant, Boston, MA

• Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 6 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 7 cups

• 1 lb dried navy beans (see NOTE)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ lb salt pork
• ½ medium onion (peeled and uncut)
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄3; cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1. NOTE: Use navy beans, California pea beans, or small white beans.
2. Soak beans overnight.
3. In the morning, preheat oven to 325°F Place the baking soda in a Dutch oven and fill half way with water.
4. Bring to a boil, add the beans & boil for 10 minutes.
5. Drain beans in a colander and run cold water through them. Set aside.
6. Dice the salt pork (available in the bacon section of the grocery store)into 1-inch squares.
7. Put half of the salt pork on the bottom of the bean pot, along with the onion.
8. Put beans in the pot.
9. Put the remaining salt pork on top of the beans.
10. Mix the sugar, molasses, mustard, salt and pepper with 3 cups of hot water and pour over the beans.
11. Cover pot with lid and place the pot into the preheated oven.
12. Bake for 6 hours.
13. Check pot periodically to make sure the amount of liquid is okay.
14. Add water to the beans slowly as needed to keep them moist; DO NOT FLOOD THEM. Just "top them up".
15. Remove the pot from the oven and serve.
16. NOTE: The Durgin-Park, a Boston restaurant whose origins date back to the American Revolution, is famous for its Boston baked beans, baked Indian pudding and apple pan dowdy. Durgin-Park cook Tommy Ryan has prepared this recipe at the restaurant for the past 37 years.
17. Durgin-Park serves 1,000 diners on an average Saturday evening. The waitresses have a reputation for their long memories: the second time you come in, you get the same thing you ordered the first time--unless you speak fast.

Reviews

[The Soup Nazi]

This is the ONLY Boston Baked Bean recipe I have ever had any success with. I love smoking in the summertime, and nothing goes better with smoked meats than baked beans. I followed the recipe exactly, and it came out perfectly! Thanks for a great recipe, I wouldn't change a thing!

[Chef Country Cook]

The recipe sounds very good, but the directions are missing the notes....1 and 18. If I hadn't read the other reviews, I would not have known to stud the onion with garlic.

[Me In My Pantry]

These beans were good! I am looking forward to having a bean sandwich!