Newsletter # 62 – Breakfast beans

As promised in the previous newsletter, today’s recipe makes use of the roasted tomato sauce recipe. But first let’s have look at the history of the humble baked bean and the beans mostly associated with this popular pantry item.

The haricot bean and also the cannellini bean were cultivated in South America around 3000BCE and long before the age of discovery, cultivation of these beans had spread to North America. In the 1500’s the Spanish brought the dried beans back to Europe, but it was early British settlers in North America that adopted not only the bean as part of their diet but also the Native American cookery method.

The British favoured molasses and ham over the bear fat and maple syrup used by the natives as flavourings and while traditional beans were cooked in a buried clay pots (similar to the New Zealand Hangi) the British settlers used brick ovens. The popularity of baked beans in the New England region of the U.S.A led to its association with the dish ‘Boston Baked Beans’ and the City of Boston being referred to as ‘Bean Town’.

Back in Europe both the haricot and cannellini beans (along with others) became very popular, particularly in England, Spain and Italy with those countries developing their own style of recipes.

Gradually the English version of baked beans changed to a less sweet product compared to North America. In the U.S.A. baked beans are often served as an accompaniment to a meal and the canned variety is still a staple in military ration packs. In England, Australia and New Zealand baked beans are an integral part of an ‘English Breakfast’ and they are also a go to quick meal often served hot on toast.

While beans were eventually cultivated in many countries there are only two main manufacturers of canned baked beans in the world – Bush Brothers in the U.S.A. and Heinz in Europe and Australia.

If I was eating canned baked beans I generally discard most of the syrupy sauce and replace it with cheddar cheese, but at the end of the day nothing beats homemade. I hope you enjoy the following recipe.