I grew up actively avoiding baked beans. They were almost always at any family get-together but I was an avid bean hater (which is funny given how much I love them now). While I still don't really eat baked beans, I love the idea behind them. Warm, smoky beans paired with salty bacon- it's hard to go wrong. This is why I love these smoky beans so much. I took the idea behind Laura's coconut bacon and used the flavor in these beans. Using smoked salt really brings the flavor together and this dish might just be my new favorite comfort bowl.

Smoky Beans and Polenta

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★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

Vegetarian comfort food at it's finest: creamy smoky beans paired with polenta.

Author: Erin Alderson
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Cuisine: dinner

Ingredients

Scale

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small shallot, minced
2 cups cooked kidney or Jacob’s cattle beans (drained and rinsed if using canned)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon smoked salt
[url]Polenta, for serving∞http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-creamy-stovetop-polenta-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-183740[/url]
Scallion greens, for serving
Black pepper, for serving

Instructions

Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil followed by the minced shallot. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the shallot is fragrant and translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients, through the smoked salt. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. The beans should be hot and the sauce thick. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water as needed. Taste and add a pinch more smoked salt as needed.
Divide the polenta into four bowls and top with the smoky beans, chopped scallion greens, and a grind or two of black pepper.

Notes

Tips & Tricks: Leave out the butter in the polenta or use a vegan substitute to make the overall dish vegan. If you need to cook the beans from their dried version, I prefer the quick-soak version found on this page.

After making these beans a couple of times more, I find I like a splash of acid in these beans. Try a tablespoon or so of sherry or balsamic vinegar to the mix!

Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: tomato paste, smoked paprika

Nutrition: see the information (includes vegan polenta base).

Link: recipe adapted from The First Mess.

Nutrition

Calories: 303
Sugar: 4.9
Sodium: 328
Fat: 3.4
Saturated Fat: .5
Carbohydrates: 57.5
Fiber: 9.5
Protein: 11.1
Cholesterol: 0

Smoky Beans

variations

To be truthful, I ate the beans by themselves for lunch. No polenta, no grains: just beans. That's how good these are. However, there's a few ways you can use these beans to make a meal:

Grains: If you want a speedier meal, swap the polenta for precooked grains or easy-to-cook grains like quinoa or millet.

Vegetables: Serve these beans with grilled or roasted vegetables. A few ideas: roasted cauliflower, grilled zucchini, or even these garlicky greens.

Chili: On my list to make this winter is a chili with these flavors. Try adding a bit more of a tomato base and throw in some bulgur to bulk it up.

Explore Jacob's Cattle Beans

These particular beans are grown a stones-throw away from where I live. I love buying and using heirloom beans. The color is always a bit better and the flavor is pronounced (a good thing). One of my dislikes in cooking are mushy, flavorless beans. These particular beans hold their shape but grab all the flavors around them (which is why they are perfect for these smoky beans!) A few other ways you could use Jacob's Cattle Beans:

Bulgur Chili
Chipotle White Bean Tacos
Potato Beet Salad

Smoky Beans and Polenta