Ingredients:
4 pounds navy beans, rinsed and sorted
2 quarts tomato juice
1 quart tomato sauce
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups brown sugar (not packed)
1/2 cup molasses
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions:
Prepare the Beans: Rinse the navy beans thoroughly, removing any debris. Place them in a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse the beans again. Refill the pot with fresh water and simmer the beans for 20 to 30 minutes until they're partially cooked and tender but not mushy.
Make the Sauce: In a large pot, combine the tomato juice, tomato sauce, chopped onion, brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, allspice, ground mustard, salt, and black pepper. Simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend the flavors.
Fill the Jars: For canning, fill each sterilized quart jar with 1 ½ cups of the partially cooked beans. Pour the prepared sauce over the beans, leaving a 1-inch headspace. Remove any air bubbles by gently tapping the jars or using a spatula. Wipe the rims clean to ensure a proper seal.
Process the Jars: Place the lids on the jars and screw the rings on securely but not too tight. Process the jars in a pressure canner at 10 pounds of pressure—90 minutes for quart jars and 75 minutes for pint jars.
Cool and Store: After processing, allow the jars to cool completely. Check that the lids have sealed properly by pressing on the center; there should be no give. Store the sealed jars in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Notes:
For a vegetarian version, substitute the tomato juice and sauce with vegetable-based alternatives.
Feel free to adjust the sweetness or spiciness by modifying the amount of brown sugar or adding spices like cayenne pepper.
Ensure all equipment is properly sterilized to maintain food safety d