Brown Sugar Baked Beans

Name: Brown Sugar Baked Beans
Prep time: 1 h 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 1-2/3 cups dried pinto beans; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 cup chunky salsa; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

If you must be stingy with salt, you're sure to appreciate this flavor-rich bean dish. "These beans are well-received by folks who love hot and spicy foods and those with a more conservative palate, too," writes Debra Hogenson of Brewster, Minnesota. "It's requested for all our family reunions."

Ingredients

1-2/3 cups dried pinto beans
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup chunky salsa
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Sort beans and rinse in cold water. Place beans in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour.
Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Return beans to Dutch oven; add onion and enough water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 60-70 minutes or until beans are tender.
Drain beans and place in an ungreased 2-qt. baking dish. Stir in the salsa, brown sugar and seasonings. Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts

1/2 cup: 207 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 150mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 10g fiber), 9g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch.

Originally published as Brown Sugar Baked Beans in Light & Tasty June/July 2002