Chef John's Santa Maria-style Beans

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 pound dry pink beans (such as pinquito)
• cold water to cover
• 2 slices peppered bacon, diced
• 1/2 cup diced smoked ham
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder (optional)
• 1 pinch dried oregano

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 15 mins

Ready Time: 10 hrs 35 mins


• place pink beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. drain.
• place drained beans in a stockpot with enough cold water to cover. bring to a simmer and cook until almost completely tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes.
• while beans are simmering, cook and stir bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until cooked through but not crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. add ham; cook and stir until ham is heated through, about 1 minute. stir garlic into ham mixture and cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute more. add tomatoes, 1/2 cup water, ketchup, sugar, dry mustard, paprika, chili powder, salt, chipotle chile powder, and oregano. bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.
• drain beans, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. combine beans, reserved liquid, and tomato mixture in the beans stockpot; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender and mixture has thickened, about 30 minutes.