Boston Baked Beans are one of those iconic dishes, especially if you live in New England. Many families would eat franks and beans every Saturday night, though canned baked beans were often used instead of homemade. Like many families, mine has a recipe for Boston Baked Beans. As far as I can tell, I’m the 6th generation to use this recipe. My mom learned how to make these from her grandmother, Clara, and has since passed this recipe along to me. Growing up, it was the one thing that my mom was responsible for bringing to every gathering that had food, especially the summer cookouts that started on Memorial Day and ended on Labor Day.
This is a post that I have been debating about for a while now. This recipe was always considered a “family secret” and was not to be shared. People would always ask for it, but I think it was only shared with one person outside of the family, who I believe ended up making her own changes to it. The interesting thing about this recipe is not what’s in it, but what isn’t. As I’ve said in an earlier post, people always try to guess what the secret ingredients are. The secret is that there aren’t any.
Right now is the best time for the sharing of recipes and culinary techniques. After years of “secret recipes”, a new generation of chefs are leading the way by putting it all out there, much of it for free on the internet. There’s been a shift from competition to collaboration. I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned and the connections I’ve made in recent years.
Having lost my mom, dad and grandmother all in the last 4 years has taken a mental toll on me. It’s something that I carry with me most days. To the best of my knowledge, I’m the only person who has this recipe. If it’s something that people really like, why shouldn’t it be shared? It’s nice to think that some part of my family’s culinary legacy lives on. Since I don’t know the originator of the recipe, I’ve attributed it to my great grandmother Clara, who taught me so much about food, even at a young age. I’ll give the recipe as it was passed along to me, followed by by notes. If you make this and like the recipe, let me know. Please share freely.
Clara’s Boston Baked Beans
1 lb Dry Yellow Eye (Steuben) Beans
3/4 Cup + Granulated White Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 Med-Lg White/Yellow Onion, Chopped Fine
Lots of Salt Pork (1/3-1/2 #)
Water for Cooking
1. Day 1- Soak Beans in Water Overnight
2. Day 2- Boil Enough Water to Cover Beans Well. This Should Be a Little More Than 4 Cups
3. Put Beans in a Ceramic Bean Pot
4. Add Onion, Sugar & Salt.
5. Remove Tough Skin from Salt Pork and Cut into Medium Dice. Add to Beans.
6. Cover with Boiling Water. Cover and Bake @275 Degrees for 6-8 Hours. No Stirring Necessary, But Add More Water if Needed While Cooking.
Notes: If you can’t find the Yellow Eye Steuben Beans, you can use Great Northern Beans, but it won’t be the same. They’re very expensive if you buy them special order, but are usually in stock at Hannaford’s Grocery Store.
3/4 cup of sugar is plenty.
I usually use close to 1/2# of Hormel salt pork. I’ve only seen it sold in 12 oz packages. Resist the urge to use the extra 4 oz.
Use 4 1/2 cups of water and you shouldn’t have to add any more.
I’ve never made this in anything but a traditional bean pot, but I know of people that make theirs in a Corningware dish. The 275 degrees is for a standard home oven. Adjust accordingly if using a commercial convection oven.
If you like what you see, please consider hiring me for an in-home dinner or cooking lesson. I run a personal chef business based out of Frederick, MD. Get more information here. Thank you.
Chris Spear
Like my Facebook page
Follow me on Twitter
Check out my Instagram
