Vegetarian Baked Beans From Scratch

Sharing today, sweet, smokey and tangy, made from scratch vegetarian baked beans. These baked beans are way easier to cook than put-all-in-one-pot kind of cook-from-scratch recipes, and have ton of flavor. Above all, these are perfect to impress vegetarian guests in your next bbq party.  

I had my first introduction to baked beans in one of such party. Often beans are baked with bacon and other meats such as pork. Since I don't eat pork... I could never try'em.. until one such event, my gracious host friend did her foodie friend (me).. a huge favor!! She introduced me to "baked beans" without meat!

Baked Beans, Baked Beans, Baked Beans!! This is what I was chanting whole way home!!

Ask me? How can a smokey-flavor-addict, chipotle-en-adobo-addict will not love smokey bbq baked beans?!! Not a chance!

Today, I thought I should share with you this vegetarian baked beans recipe. In my humble opinion, every bbq party should have a pot of vegetarian baked beans so everyone, vegetarian and meat-lovers, all can enjoy.

Trust me, your vegetarian friends will "thank you" for this treat!

Why Baked from Scratch?

For me, this is how I cook most of my Indian beans recipes - start with soaking in water overnight, boil in morning and then season as per flavor wanted. In Indian household, beans, chickpeas, lentils are every day vegetarian dinner sides. Canned beans don't exist in our cooking. Even when recipe calls for can of beans, I soak'em overnight and cook the next day.

Oh, and cooking beans from starch saves money and homemade beans are much healthier than canned version. Also, cooking from scratch is not at all hard. Often I use pressure cooker to cook lentils. For these baked beans, I boiled the beans until just tender. Exactly as we get in canned version - al dente, ready to use for any recipe.

Can I use Canned Beans?

That was the whole idea of this recipe. I cooked beans before adding flavors which make'em easy to use for any recipe.  

I admit, there are times when I don't have time to cook from scratch. Specially when there is last minute invitation to a BBQ potluck and I had no time to soak beans overnight. Or let's say, I just forgot to soak beans overnight. :)  So, yes, you can even replace boiled beans with canned ones for this recipe. Please make sure to use low-sodium unflavored pinto or navy bean.

So, for this recipe, I soak beans overnight, then boil them in salted water for 20-25 minutes so as to cook'em just tender enough to get bath with bbq baked beans flavors in oven. I don't cook'em straight in the sauces because that does not give me control over liquid to bean ratio. Also, flavors don't get accurate with beans boiling in lots of water.

Why Vegetarian when everyone screams "Bacon" in baked beans?

Hey guys, somebody has to bring a side which all can enjoy?! Isn't it? Vegetarian or Meat eaters! This is my personal experience, in all get-togethers everyone wants to try vegetarian side where meaty-sides are just for carnivores. :) Also, when you see face of vegetarians lit-up to see a meat-labeled recipe cooked for them without meat... event becomes even more special.

Side Effect: Every one asks for recipe later. Good immune booster for the cook ;)

These beans taste so so good, I bet you won't even miss bacon. Try'em once. 

So let me sum-up why make these Vegetarian Baked Beans for next BBQ party or potluck?
1. No one, I mean, no one will resist sweet, smoky and creamy serving of these baked beans.
2. Baking from scratch, saves some money too! A big pot of beans will not cost more than $2-3. I soaked 1.5 cups of pinto beans overnight and they were 3+ cups after hydrating. 
3. Of course, home cooked beans are healthier and have no preservatives!
4. Above all, cooking vegetarian beans will make vegetarian friends not feel left-off.

Last but not least, these beans are even perfect for Sunday dinner, at home! Just grill some of your fav protein and serve beans on the side!

Enjoy your weekend!

Cheers! ~Savita