Delicious brothy homemade white beans. Infused with garlic and herbs, the flavorful broth is good to the last drop! Baking beans in the oven makes for easy, hands off cooking. Meal prep these beans for healthy, protein packed meals throughout the week. These white beans are delicious on their own, served with crusty bread, or added to soups and grain bowls.
The night before - soak: Add beans to a large bowl and fill with water. (Beans can triple in size so make sure there's plenty of water). Cover and let soak at room temperature overnight.
The next day - drain and preheat: Drain and rinse soaked beans. Transfer beans to a large Dutch oven. Position a rack so that the Dutch oven (with the lid on) will be roughly centered in the oven.Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Combine and bake: Trim the tops (about ½-inch / 1 cm) off each head of garlic to reveal the cloves. Add the heads of garlic, onion, shallots, broth, olive oil, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir to mix. Cover with a lid. Bake until beans are tender, 1 hr 45 minutes to 2 hours.
Finish seasoning: Use a slotted spoon (or tongs) to press the heads of garlic against the side of the pot to release the soft garlic cloves. Remove and discard the garlic skins, bay leaves, and thyme sprigs. Stir well to mix the garlic into the broth. Taste and season with more salt and pepper. Ladle beans and broth into bowls. (See note 2 for serving suggestions).
Notes
Navy bean substitute: You could substitute navy beans with other white beans, such as cannellini. Beans have different cooking times required, so you will need to adjust accordingly.
Serving suggestions: These beans (and the broth) are delicious on their own. But here are some other serving ideas to mix it up: • Grilled or crusty bread on the side • Top with blanched greens (such as broccolini), soft boiled egg, crumbled feta, and microgreens • Stir beans into a soup. Would be delicious in a white bean and pasta soup! • Add beans to a grain bowl, for some plant-based protein