Description
A wholesome and comforting recipe for healthy baked beans made with haricot beans simmered in a flavorful sauce of passata, garlic, onions, and dates, served over hearty jacket potatoes. This nutritious dish is perfect for a filling meal that’s naturally vegetarian and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 tsp rapeseed oil
- 1 large onion (185g), finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 1 bay leaf
Sauce & Flavorings
- 500g passata
- 3 pitted dates (about 15g), roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp bouillon powder
- plenty of black pepper, freshly ground
Beans & Potatoes
- 3 x 400g cans haricot beans, drained
- 4 medium cooked jacket potatoes
- 400ml water
Instructions
- Heat Oil and Fry Onion: Warm 1 teaspoon of rapeseed oil in a non-stick saucepan over low heat. Add the finely chopped onion and fry gently for 5 minutes until golden. Add a drop of water if the onion starts to stick or burn to prevent scorching.
- Add Garlic and Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the finely grated garlic cloves, then pour in the passata, chopped dates, balsamic vinegar, bouillon powder, and add the bay leaf. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 minutes to develop flavors.
- Add Beans and Water: Drain the haricot beans and add them to the saucepan along with 400 ml of water. Stir to combine everything thoroughly.
- Simmer Until Thickened: Let the beans mixture simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency.
- Serve: Remove the bay leaf. Serve the hot baked beans over cooked medium jacket potatoes for a filling and nutritious meal.
- Freeze for Later (Optional): To freeze, allow the baked beans to cool completely. Portion into freezer bags and store for up to three months. Thaw thoroughly overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a pan until piping hot before serving.
Notes
- Adding a drop of water while frying the onions prevents burning without adding oil, keeping the dish healthy.
- Using dates adds natural sweetness and depth to the sauce without refined sugar.
- Simmer gently to avoid breaking down the beans too much and maintain a nice texture.
- The recipe is naturally vegetarian and can be made vegan by ensuring the bouillon powder is plant-based.
- Cooked jacket potatoes can be prepared ahead of time to speed up meal assembly.
- Freezing in portions makes it convenient to enjoy healthy baked beans anytime.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: healthy baked beans, vegetarian baked beans, haricot beans recipe, baked beans with jacket potatoes, easy vegetarian dinner, healthy comfort food
