The haricot bean, navy bean, pearl bean, Boston bean, white pea bean, or pea bean is a variety of the common bean. It is a dry white bean that is smaller than many other types of white beans, and has an oval, slightly flattened shape. This recipe comes from a good friend in Wales it is a wartime recipe which has been adapted slightly. It is very thrifty but surprisingly good to eat.
Ensure the beans are well soaked then cover with water and let them simmer gently for about 1 hour or until tender.
Drain, season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 375°F /190°C
Peel and slice the onions and cook them gently in the water until they are tender, then drain them, reserving the water and making it up to 1 pint / 500 ml with the milk
Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour,
when it 'froths' remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the milk and onion water.
Return the saucepan to the heat, stirring all the time for 3 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
Add the grated cheese, dry mustard, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Put the beans in a shallow greased casserole dish and arrange the tomatoes on top; season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Put the onions on top of the tomatoes and season again
Pour the sauce evenly over the onions
Scatter the breadcrumbs on top and dot with butter
Bake for 30 - 40 minutes
0 servings