Best
Barbecued Beans on the Planet
Method: indirect grilling
Serves: 12 to 16
You'll also need:
1 large (turkey-size) or 2 medium-size aluminum foil pans; 2 cups wood chips or
chunks (preferably pecan or hickory) soaked for 1 hour in hot water to cover,
then drained.
1.
If using bacon instead of brisket, place it in a large skillet over medium heat
and fry until crisp and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Pour off all the bacon
fat, saving a few tablespoons for the beans, if desired.
2.
Empty the cans of black and kidney beans into a colander and drain. Rinse the
beans under cold running water and drain again. Place all the beans (including
the baked beans or pork and beans) in a large nonreactive mixing bowl and add
the onion, bell and poblano peppers, garlic, and jalapenos and stir to mix. Add
the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, mustard, liquid smoke, if using, and brisket or
fried bacon and stir to mix. Taste for seasoning, adding more brown sugar
and/or mustard as necessary, and salt and black pepper to taste; the beans
should be very flavorful. Transfer the bean mixture to the aluminum foil pan or
pans. (If you used bacon, you can drizzle a few tablespoons of bacon fat over
the beans for extra flavor.)
3.
Set up the grill for indirect grilling and preheat to medium-low. If using a
gas grill, place all of the wood chips or chunks in the smoker box or in a
smoker pouch and run the grill on high until you see smoke, then reduce the
heat to medium-low. If using a charcoal grill, preheat it to medium-low, then
toss all of the wood chips or chunks on the coals.
4.
When ready to cook, place the pan of beans in the center of the hot grate, away
from the heat, and cover the grill. Cook the beans until they are thick and
richly flavored, about 1 hour. If the beans start to dry out, cover them
loosely with aluminum foil. Remove the beans from the grill and let them rest
for 15 minutes, then serve.
Note: If you cook the beans in a gas grill, you probably won't be
able to generate enough smoke for a strong wood flavor. Add the liquid smoke in
this case.