Spicy Bacon Baked Beans

Back again with another pantry essential recipe to add to your arsenal. And I hate to sound like a broken record but this uses simple ingredients to achieve something truly delicious. Spicy bacon baked beans with a creamy garlic, coconut mashed potato. If you don’t believe me, just watch. We using potatoes, baked beans, onion, garlic, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, dried thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bacon to bring this dish together. The final product is a creamy, delicious mashed potatoes with a smoky, sweet and spicy bacon baked beans. Real comfort food vibes here.

Ingredients

• 7 medium sized potatoes
• 1 can of baked beans
• 6 pieces of streaky bacon chopped
• 1 medium sized onion diced 
• 3 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp cayenne pepper or chili powder
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 4 tbsp butter
• salt & black pepper to taste
• chopped chives for garnish

Spicy Bacon Baked Beans Method

1. Add bacon to a pan and saute on low heat for 6 minutes allowing fat to render. Stir occasionally.
2. Add chopped onions and saute for another 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
3. Add cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic and dried thyme to pan and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes
4. Add baked beans and 1/4 cup of water to pan, deglaze
5. Use a wooden spoon to gently scrape fond (caramelized bits) from the bottom of the pan and incorporate with baked beans
6. Cover and allow to simmer on low heat for 5 minutes

Garlic Coconut Mashed Potatoes Method

1. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, add a tablespoon of salt then add potatoes
2. Allow potatoes to cook for 30 minutes in boiling water
3. Use a fork to make sure potatoes are fully cooked
4. Transfer to a bowl
5. Using a mitt or kitchen towel, carefully handle hot potatoes and remove skin*
6. Add butter, garlic powder, salt and black pepper to hot potatoes and continue to mash with a fork
7. Once mixture has become a rough mash, add coconut milk
8. Combine and mash until creamy

* This step is optional. You can leave the skins on the potatoes for a rustic finish