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Northern Beans Recipe recipe photo - Northern Beans Recipe by Jan

Northern Beans Recipe

Published: January 5, 2025 Prep Time: About 15 minutes Cook Time: About 2 hours Total Time: About 2 hours 15 minutes Serves: 8 Difficulty: Easy Category: Side Dish Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried northern beans
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 ham hock or 4 ounces bacon
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Rinse beans and pick out any debris
  2. In a large pot, combine beans, water, and ham hock
  3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour
  4. Add onion, garlic, and bay leaves
  5. Continue simmering for 45 minutes until beans are tender
  6. Remove ham hock and bay leaves
  7. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper
  8. Add brown sugar and apple cider vinegar
  9. Simmer for 15 minutes until flavors meld
  10. Serve hot as a side dish

Special Notes

These hearty northern beans are a Southern comfort food classic. The ham hock adds rich, smoky flavor while the brown sugar provides sweetness. The beans should be tender but not mushy. This dish pairs perfectly with cornbread and collard greens. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days and reheated gently on the stovetop. For a vegetarian version, omit the ham hock and add smoked paprika for flavor.

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