Three Bean Baked Beans

I decided it was time to go on the search for a new type of baked bean recipe.  I'm so tired of the "sticky, sweet, been eating those at every BBQ since my childhood" baked bean.  A quick Google search provided this awesome recipe from Simply Recipes.  Turns out this one was adapted from a Bon Appetit version.  Wherever it originated, it's a definite keeper.

5 bacon slices

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 Tbsp dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup dark molasses
1/3 cup (or more) water
1 bay leaf

1 15- to 16-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed, drained

1 15- to 16-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained

1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney beans), rinsed, drained  (I used navy beans)

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

 

Cook bacon in heavy large ovenproof pot over medium heat until crisp.  Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain.  Crumble bacon and reserve.

Add onion to drippings in pot and sauté until almost tender, about 5 minutes.  Add dry mustard and thyme and stir 1 minute.  Mix in ketchup, vinegar, molasses, 1/3 cup water, bay leaf and all beans.  Season with salt and pepper.

Cover pot and bake bean mixture 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more water if mixture seems dry.  Mix bacon into beans.  Bake 15 minutes longer.  Discard bay leaf.  Mix in hot pepper sauce and serve.