Jul 09 2026
Restaurants›Cotham's In the City›Northern Beans Recipe

Northern Beans Recipe

Inspired by Cotham's In the City
Time40m
Serves4

Make Northern Beans Recipe in just 40m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Canned navy beans base

Aromatics, finish, and serving

Method

Preparation and simmering

  1. 1

    Rinse and drain beans

    Rinse the two cans of navy beans under cool water and drain well.

  2. 2

    Prep aromatics

    Dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic.

  3. 3

    Sauté aromatics

    In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, until fragrant.

  4. 4

    Season

    Season with salt and black pepper, stirring to combine.

  5. 5

    Add liquids and beans

    Pour in the vegetable broth. Add the rinsed beans and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

  6. 6

    Simmer and meld flavors

    Let the mixture simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and beans to heat through.

Aromatics, finish, and serving

  1. 7

    Add spices

    Stir in ground cumin, smoked paprika, and dried thyme. Add the bay leaf and simmer for 5 more minutes to bloom the spices.

  2. 8

    Finish

    Remove the bay leaf. Stir in lemon juice and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.

  3. 9

    Optional thickening

    Mash about half of the beans with the back of a spoon to thicken the mixture while keeping some beans whole.

  4. 10

    Serve

    Taste and serve hot, with crusty bread or a sprinkle of fresh herbs if desired.

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