So, what's so great about beans? 🫘

This recipe is part of a Community Larder series, where the main ingredient is available to you for free from the Community Larder on campus or at the city centre location.

Beans are a good source of plant-based protein and high in fibre, and one daily portion counts towards your five a day.

Did you know?

Standard baked beans are generally made from haricot beans, and because they are canned, they are already cooked. Baked beans are served in a rich tomato sauce.

Convenient, filling, can be eaten hot or cold, tasty and versatile. What is not to love?

The British are obsessed with baked beans. History shows that an American named Henry Heinz introduced them to the Isles in the 10th century, and they have been a hit ever since.

Leftover beans?

Remove any left-over tinned food from the open metal tin into a clean-lidded container. If you leave food in an open tin there is a risk of the metal leaching into the food, so best not to take a chance. 

Our research on campus has identified that baked beans can be a commonly wasted food, so here are some ideas of how to use them up:

•  Fried onions and bacon with your baked beans and a dash of BBQ sauce. And voilà 'Quick Boston beans'

•  Fried onion, garlic and chilli, and add your baked beans and mash – quick re-fried beans.

• Cold baked beans can be added to salads. Simply rinse the left over baked beans in cold water to remove the sauce and use the beans to top a salad of your choice.

• If you always have left over baked beans – snack pots may be a good option.

Burritos (meat/alternative and beans)

Prep time – 15 mins

Cook time for chilli – 40 mins

Cook time for burritos – 30 mins – medium heat

Serves 8 (one each or 4 if having 2 each)

Ingredients

•  2 tbsp oil

•  1 finely chopped onion

•  4 finely chopped or grated garlic

•  1 level tsp chilli powder (more or less to suit taste)

•  500g mince (beef or pork and beef mix) or Quorn alternative

•  pinch of sugar

•  1 tbsp wine vinegar or cider vinegar

•  400g can chopped tomatoes or passata

•  415g tin of baked beans

•  8 flour tortillas

•  500 gram cooked rice

*Thinly diced celery peppers, carrot can all be added to the chilli sauce.

It is best to make the chilli in advance and chilled overnight. Alternatively you could use a pre-made chilli from a tin or a chilled option.

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large pan – a casserole is ideal. Fry the onions for 8 mins, then add the garlic and chilli and mix together. Crumble over the mince and sizzle for 5 mins, stirring, until browned. Stir in the sugar and leave for a minute, then splash in the vinegar and pour in the tomatoes.
2. Simmer for 5 mins then tip in the baked beans. Season, stir, and simmer everything for 20 minutes until the beef is in a thick gravy.
3. To make the burritos, individually blast the tortillas in a microwave for 5 seconds (this makes them soft and pliable). Lay flat and pile some rice and chilli along each tortilla. Fold over the ends and roll up to seal. Stack side by side in a long baking tray.
4. Place in a preheated oven a medium heat and allow to heat through and become golden. When you see that they are piping hot all the way through they are ready to serve with a topping of your choice.
5. Serve with: Avocado, soured cream, shredded lettuce, sliced red onion and/or grated cheddar.

Make sure to check out the other Community Larder recipes.