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SPICY BAKED BEANS
Serves 6
1 cup dried kidney beans
1/2 cup dried cannellini beans
1/2 cup dried great northern or navy beans
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1
tablespoon cumin seeds
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
2
cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup crushed canned tomatoes
4 ripe plum
tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 bay
leaf
Grated rind of 1 orange
1/2 teaspoon crushed black peppercorns
1/3 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
1/4 cup cider vinegar, or more,
to taste
Salt to taste
Place all beans in a bowl, cover with water
to a depth of 2 inches. Add thyme and soak at least 4 hours.
Heat a heavy
3-quart casserole. Add cumin seeds, and cook, stirring, until they dance around
and smell toasty. Remove them. Add the oil, onion, carrot to casserole, and
saute over medium heat 10 minutes. Stir in the jalapeño, garlic and
toasted cumin seeds.
Preheat to 250 degrees. Drain beans, and add them
along with the canned and fresh tomatoes, maple syrup, brown sugar, bay leaf,
orange rind and crushed peppercorns.
Stir in all but 1 tablespoon of the
coriander, and add 3 cups of water. Cover, and bring to a slow simmer.
Place in the oven, and cook 2 hours. Add vinegar and salt to taste. Return
to the oven 21/2 hours longer, until the liquid has been absorbed, but the
beans are still moist.
Adjust seasonings, adding more vinegar and salt if
needed. Sprinkle the remaining coriander, and serve.
