Forgive me for being a traitor to my nationality here, but I’m not usually a massive fan of baked beans. They’re the kind of thing I put up with in a full English, but I don’t go out of my way to buy them for everyday consumption.
So trust me when I say it’s a big deal that I’m genuinely raving about Bold Bean Co’s Smoky Chilli Baked Beans to everyone I know.
I first discovered these beans when I tested Grubby’s high-protein vegan ready meals and recipe boxes, and I’ve not been able to stop thinking about them ever since.
What’s special about them is that they come in a glass jar – which immediately feels premium, don’t ask me why. Then there’s the unbeatable flavour.
Huge slabs of bean (they use their own Queen White Beans, rather than the usual borlotti) are packed in a rich, slightly spicy, and smoky chipotle-infused tomato sauce, and they are an absolute delight on the palette.
Call it a hyperfixation meal, but ever since, I’ve been stocking my cupboard with at least three jars of the things every time I do a food shop because they make the perfect low-effort high-protein breakfast, snack, or even TV dinner.
One jar is 350g, and if you eat the whole thing yourself (which I’d highly recommend) you’ll get a whole 16g of protein in one meal.
The pot piles perfectly onto two generous slices of bread. But honestly, I could eat several of them at a time even if it meant eating a whole loaf of bread, that’s how delicious they are.
And of course, they go perfectly underneath a crispy fried egg, or even poached – there’s no need to discriminate.
I’ve also just read the reviews on Big Bean Co’s website, and now I could not be more desperate to try anything than these beans on top of a cheesy piece of toast.
Unlike Heinz or other brands of canned baked beans, you can pop the glass jar directly in the microwave, which gets them bubbly in no time.
And before you point out that Heinz has slightly more protein and slightly less salt, I’ll give it to you. Personally, though, these are far more delicious and come in a richer, tastier tomato sauce that just feels worth the extra cash.
In fact, I’ve now indoctrinated my girlfriend and my mother into loving them too, so now I have them no matter whose house I’m at.
