Not So Baked Beans

Baked Beans are in English cuisine like rice in Asian, you just cant miss it.

Normally is a side dish.

Today I want to show you haw to prepare it differently. That much different that is the main dish on its own. Filling and delicious.

You have to put some effort and time, but believe me, its worth it!! Once made, you can freeze it for later. Because it take some time to prepare, I always make a big pot at once.

Ingredients:

1kg Dehydrated Butter Beans (you can find them on organic isles in supermarkets, or in shops with organic food. As well as in all polish shops "Fasola Jas")
1kg of good quality smoked sausage
250g of smoked bacon
(if you have, but not necessarily skin from smoked ham, that part that you do not eat, but is brilliant for cooking and giving a lot of flavour)
1large onion
4 cloves of garlic
1 tube of tomatoes pure
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
salt, pepper, sugar and dried marjoram (marjoram in Polish cooking is like thyme in English)

How to prepare:
Put Butter Beans into large bowl and cover them with cold water for at least 12 hours.
Before putting into large saucepan, you have to drain the leftover water and wash them in cold running water.
In large saucepan cover Beans with water, add the smoked skin in you have one, and a spoonful of salt. Cover and simmer for about 2 hour on low heat, until beans are tender. You have to stir it once in a while or it will burn at the bottom!!
In mean time slice bacon and fry it, till crispy. Put bacon away and on the same pan, fry sliced sausage, when its golden ad chopper onion and let it "sweat".
When beans are tender add all the friend meat with onion. Together with tin of tomatoes and tomato pure and simmer for another half an hour/hour. Do not forget to stir it once in a while.
Now its time for tasting. Press garlic in garlic press, add handful of dried marjoram and spoon of sugar. Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking.

This tastes the best "next day" when reheated.

Serve with fresh bread.