Chef John’s Rocket Beans

Description Rocket is another name for arugula. I love to use it as an herb, but don’t buy it in the herb section of the supermarket; buy it in the lettuce section. This is an incredibly fast, incredibly simple, but satisfying rustic bean side dish. Ingredients 4 slices bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces 1 … Read more

Chef John’s Sandy Beans

Description One quest that never ends for a cook is the search for ways to make common side dishes seem a little more special. Here we’re coating the beans with a crispy, cheesy, pleasantly-gritty bread crumb mixture. This was inspired by a similar trick I like to use for finishing pastas, and if there’s one … Read more

Chef John’s Boston Baked Beans

Description This is a great side dish with anything! Ingredients 1 pound dry navy beans 6 cups water 1 pinch baking soda 1 bay leaf 6 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 yellow onion, diced ⅓ cup molasses ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder 1 ½ teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon … Read more