Healthy Recipe:

Recipe: Classic Boston baked beans

  • High fiber = at least 5 g of fiber per serving

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Dietitian's tip: This legume dish is high in folate and a good source of iron. Folate helps form red blood cells, which contain iron. Both nutrients are important in preventing anemia.

By Mayo Clinic staff
Serves 12

Ingredients

    • 2 cups dried small, white beans (navy beans), picked over and rinsed, soaked overnight and drained
    • 4 cups water
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1 yellow onion, chopped
    • 1/2 cup light molasses
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard
    • 3 strips thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Directions

In a large, ovenproof pot with a tight-fitting lid or in a Dutch oven, combine the beans, water, bay leaves and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover partially and simmer until the beans have softened but are still firm, 65 to 75 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaves. Don't drain the beans.

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Stir the onion, molasses, mustard, bacon and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt into the beans. Cover and bake until the beans are tender and coated with a light syrup, 4 1/2 to 5 hours. Check periodically to make sure the beans don't dry out, stirring and adding hot water as needed.

Nutritional Analysis

(per serving)
Serving size: about 1/3 cup
Calories200 Cholesterol4 mg
Protein4 g Sodium197 mg
Carbohydrate19 g Fiber6 g
Total fat4 g Potassium599 mg
Saturated fat1 g Calcium83 mg
Monounsaturated fat2 g   
Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid Servings Diabetes Meal Plan Exchanges Dash Eating Plan Servings

 

Source: This recipe is one of 150 recipes collected in The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook, published by Mayo Clinic Health Information and Oxmoor House, and winner of the 2005 James Beard award.
NU00308 April 15, 2011

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