Homemade Baked Beans

These baked beans as so much nicer than a can of baked beans. It is worth the effort to have a go at making them.

• Ready In: 7 hrs
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 500  g dried navy beans or 500  g cannellini
• 1  teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
•  water
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  large onion, diced
• 3  garlic cloves, chopped
• 700  g  pasta sauce
• 1⁄4 cup treacle
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1  tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2  bay leaves
• 1  tablespoon dry English-style mustard
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  smoked paprika
•  sea salt
•  fresh ground black pepper
• 2  cups  chicken stock
• 1  small ham hock

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced).
2. In a medium saucepan, combine beans, bicarbonate of soda and cover with water. Bring to the boil, remove from heat and allow to stand for at least two hours. Return saucepan to the heat, bring to the boil, drain.
3. Heat oil in a large enamelled cast-iron casserole and sauté onion and garlic.
4. Add the remaining ingredients, including the beans and bring to the boil.
5. Place the ham hock on top of the beans, cover and place casserole in preheated oven for 4-5 hours.
6. Remove hock from casserole, discard skin and bone, shred meat. Remove bay leaves before returning shredded meat to the beans. Serve on toast.