May in Review and Homemade Baked Lima or Navy Beans

It took me until adulthood before I realized just how good baked beans are. It took me even longer to like Lima beans. This hearty baked Lima (or Navy) bean recipe, in a sweet molasses sauce is just so delicious and satisfying it will change your mind too!

HOMEMADE BAKED BEANS RECIPE

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Preparation Time takes about 4 hours not including soaking time.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound dried Lima or Navy beans
• 1/8 tsp. baking soda
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 tsp. minced garlic (refrigerated kind works fine) (optional)
• 1/4 cup Maple syrup
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup Ketchup
• 2 Tablespoons prepared yellow mustard or honey mustard
• 1 tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 4 slices of lean bacon – cut into 1″ pieces

SOAKING BEANS

OVERNIGHT SOAK:

Rinse and sort beans. In a large pot add 6-8 cups cold water. Let stand overnight or at least 6-8 hours. Drain soak water and rinse beans.

QUICK SOAK:

Rinse and sort beans. In a large pot add 8 cups hot water and 1/8 tsp. baking soda. Bring to rapid boil, boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain soak water and rinse beans.

Directions for Cooking the beans after soaking:
Add 6 cups hot water, bay leaves, and garlic to drained and rinsed beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently with lid tilted until desired tenderness is reached, about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Drain the beans and discard the bay leaves.

In a 2-quart baking dish or covered casserole, combine the syrup, molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper. Add the drained beans and stir together. Lay the bacon pieces over top of beans. Cover and bake at 350º for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 40 more minutes. Stir bacon into beans before serving.