250gdried small white beans9 oz, like cannellini (See note)
1onion
1tablespoonoil
¼teaspoonsmoked paprika
1teaspoonsweet paprika
1can tomatoes400 g/ 14 oz
1tablespoonsoy sauce
1tablespoonsugar
2tablespoonsred wine vinegar
3tablespoonssalsa or ketchup
3bay leaves
Fry-up:
2-4small pork sausagesdepending on size and appetite
2-4rashers smoked streaky bacon or back bacondepending on size and appetite
2-4small tomatoespreferably plum tomatoes, depending on size and appetite
2large eggs
1teaspoonoil or butter
salt and pepper
To serve:
4bread slices
ketchup
brown sauce
jam or marmalade
butter
teacoffee
freshly squeezed orange juice
Instructions
The baked bean recipe serves 4, while the fry-up serves 2. If making an English breakfast for 4 persons, double the ingredients used for the fry-up.
Baked beans
Soak the beans in plenty of water overnight. 250 g dried small white beans
Cook the beans in fresh water for about 40 minutes or until tender. The cooking times depend on the size and age of the beans, so keep checking and don't let them turn to mush. Drain well. You can use two cans of beans instead.
Chop the onion finely. Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the onion until golden and softer, about 5 minutes. Add the smoked and sweet paprika and stir well for another minute.1 onion + 1 tablespoon oil + ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Simmer: Add the chopped tomatoes and their juices, cooked beans, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, salsa or ketchup, bay leaves, some salt, and pepper. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly.1 can tomatoes + 1 tablespoon soy sauce + 1 tablespoon sugar + 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar + 3 tablespoons salsa or ketchup + 3 bay leaves
Adjust the taste with more salt and pepper and depending on taste with more sugar. If I make the beans with ketchup, I usually don't need to add any sugar anymore, in the case of salsa I might add a pinch more, depending on the brand of salsa I use.
Fry-up:
Cook sausages: Heat a grill pan. Add the sausages and cook them on medium-low heat, turning often, until nicely browned and crispy on all sides. To make sure they are cooked through I usually cut one in the middle (the one I am eating myself afterward). Depending on the size of the sausages, cooking them might take between 10 and 15 minutes.2-4 small pork sausages
Grill tomatoes: Halve the tomatoes, lightly sprinkle the cut side with salt and cook them on the cut side until done and slightly caramelized. This should take about 10 minutes. Turn them on the other side for a minute or so at the end of the cooking process.I only have one grill pan, the one I use for the sausages as well, so I usually cook the sausages and tomatoes together. If they don't fit together in the pan, cook the sausages in a regular pan and use the grill pan for the tomatoes.2-4 small tomatoes
Fry the bacon in the same pan for a few minutes on each side until the desired level of crispiness is achieved. Let drain on kitchen paper. If the pan is not large enough, fry the bacon after the sausages are ready; it will not take long.2-4 rashers smoked streaky bacon or back bacon
Fry eggs: When ready to serve, fry the eggs in a little oil or butter. You can fry them to your liking; the egg yolk can be runny or set.1 teaspoon oil or butter + 2 large eggs
Toast the bread.4 bread slices
Serve: Arrange the beans, sausages, bacon, tomatoes on a large heated plate and place the fried egg on top. Serve with toasted bread, tea, coffee, orange juice, jam or marmalade, ketchup, and brown sauce.
Or you can serve the breakfast between two slices of toasted bread or toasties as suggested above.