The Best Boston Baked Beans

VillageMom's Note:

This is a great recipe I found for baked beans. It was originally posted from The Sacramento Bee, 1998. This recipe is used by the Durgin-Park Restaurant in Boston, MA. This restaurant dates back to the American Revolution and is famous for its Boston baked beans. The Durgin-Park cook, Tommy Ryan, has prepared this recipe at the restaurant for the past 37 years. The restaurant serves 1,000 diners on an average Saturday evening. A recipe that has been around this long - and has served many people - can't be wrong.

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

Ingredients:

Yield: 7 cups

• 1 lb beans
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ lb bacon or 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. Use California pea beans, York State beans or small white navy beans.
2. Soak beans overnight. Ensure water covers the beans by 4 - 5 inches. The beans will soak up the water.
3. In the morning, preheat oven to 325°F
4. Place the baking soda in a large pot and fill half way with water. Bring to a boil and add the beans. Boil for 10 minutes. Drain beans in a colander and run cold water through them. Set aside.
5. Cut the bacon into 1 inch lengths. Put half of the bacon on the bottom of a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish (needs lid). Add the onion. Put beans in the casserole. Put the remaining bacon on top of the beans.
6. Mix the sugar, molasses, mustard, salt and pepper with 3 cups of hot water and pour over the beans. Cover the casserole with the lid and place in preheated oven.
7. Bake for 6 hours. Check the casserole periodically to check the amount of liquid. Add water to the beans slowly as needed to keep them moist; do not flood them.
8. Remove the casserole from the oven and serve.