BROWN BEANS (Swedish)

Contributed by Florence Drummond & Katie D. Allen, Sigrid Undset Lodge #32, Palo Alto, CA

  • 2 cups brown beans (dried)*
  • 4 – 5 cups cold water
  • 1 1/2 quarts water
  • 2 tsp. prepared yellow mustard
  • 1 – 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 4 Tbsp. or more dark molasses
  • 2 – 4 Tbsp. vinegar (to taste)
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • salt to taste
  • 1/2 cup diced onions (optional)
  • 1/2 cup crisply fried crumbled bacon (blotted dry)
Baked Brown beans

Delicious Swedish Brown Beans!

Yield: 10 – 12 servings.

  1. Wash dried beans in cold water and drain. Take out any stones per directions. Soak beans overnight in pot of cold water ensuring the beans are covered with enough water so they can expand to two to three times original size.
  2. The next morning, place pot of beans and water on stove and heat to boiling. Turn the pot down after it begins to boil and simmer for 1 – 2 hours until beans are somewhat tender.
  3. Add all the remaining ingredients except the bacon. Heat another 20 minutes, adding more water if required to keep it from getting too thick.
  4. In bean pot (or other larger casserole dish), place beans with bacon on top if you haven't already cooked them. (Bacon can be mixed in or left on top.
  5. Cover bean pot or casserole and bake in preheated 375 oven until beans are thickened, about another 2 – 3 hours. **
  6. Serve now, or hold and reheat when ready to eat.
  1. *Swedish brown beans, navy beans, etc. will work. (Ikea and other Scandinavian stores carry the Swedish brown beans usually. However, navy beans seem to be at all grocery stores in dried bean area.)
  2. **If beans are too thin, add either some flour, cornstarch, or tomato paste to thicken it. Be sure to cook after this addition for at least 30 minutes. If too thick, add water as needed.
  3. Although this takes time, the results are much better than canned baked brown beans!
  4. Many places sell old fashion bean pots. One is listed on the left column. Goggle for additional pots. However, a simple casserole dish also works well.
  5. Serve with Swedish Meatballs or at a Smorgasbord.