Baked beans with a twist

In a few days Pretorians will gather around the braai for Braai Day, more formally known as Heritage Day, and to help you prepare we’ve found the most delicious recipe for Maker’s Mark Bourbon Baked Beans, the perfect side dish for the day.

Ingredients

• 1kg  dried pinto or white beans
• 250g of bacon, cut into medium dice
• 1 white onion diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
• 3/4 cup Homemade Maker’s Mark® BBQ sauce
• 4 shots Makers Mark® bourbon
• 1 can of ginger ale
• 4 cups pork or chicken stock

 

Toppings

• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 100g  country ham, chopped

 

Method

1. Soak dried beans for at least 1 hour or overnight.
2. While preheating oven to 180 degrees, brown bacon on the stove over medium heat in an oven-safe pot or Dutch oven.
3. When almost crispy, add onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
4. Drain your beans and add to the bacon mixture.
5. Add Maker’s Mark BBQ sauce, Maker’s Mark Bourbon and ginger ale. Mix well, and then add the pork or chicken stock.
6. Cover pot, place in oven and bake for 1 hour.
7. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes or until beans are tender and a crust has begun to form on top of the dish.

 

For the crumb topping

1. Melt butter in a sauté pan over medium heat and add country ham and panko.
2. Stir constantly until lightly brown, about 5 minutes.
3. Remove beans from oven and top with the crumble before serving.