Italian-Style Baked Beans

Ingredients

• 6 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup dark beer
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons mild-flavored molasses
• 6 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cook the pancetta in a heavy large oven-safe pot over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the beer, tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, molasses, mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir in the beans. Bring to a simmer. Transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the bean mixture bubbles and thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.