Yield: ~12–14 cups | Great for batch cooking or freezing
Ingredients:
Beans:
- 2 lbs dry navy beans (about 4 cups dry)
- 10 cups water (for boiling beans)
Meat:
- 1.5–2 cups shredded roasted pork
- 1.5–2 cups diced cooked ham (rinsed if salty)
Liquid & Flavor Base:
- 2–3 cups pork broth (used in final simmer)
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 tsp mustard powder (or 2 tsp yellow mustard)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (optional, for tang)
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Cook the Beans:
- Soak navy beans overnight, or quick-soak by boiling 5 min and letting sit 1 hour.
- Drain and rinse. Add to a large pot with 10 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cook until just tender (1–1.5 hours).
- Drain beans and set aside.
2. Make the Sauce:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, sauté onion in oil or a little pork fat until soft.
- Stir in:
- Ketchup
- Tomato paste
- Brown sugar
- Molasses
- Mustard powder
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Add 2–3 cups pork broth to thin the sauce to a stew-like base. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
3. Combine and Simmer:
- Add drained beans, shredded roasted pork, and ham to the pot.
- Stir well and simmer uncovered on low for 45–60 minutes, adding more pork broth if needed.
- Mash 1–2 cups of beans into the pot for texture, or blend briefly with an immersion blender.
- Add apple cider vinegar at the end. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
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