Fusion food is all the rage right? I have been craving for Boston Baked beans, but do not have many of the main ingredients, and some of them are not available in stores, such as maple syrup and salt pork. There is a yummy Turkish dish called Barbunya, a bean dish served cold, that is slightly sweet, and savory. So I decided to take what I liked from both and make Turkmerican beans.
2 cups of dried barbunya beans (soaked overnight)

2 medium onions, diced

3 tablespoons of olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 carrots, shredded

1 cup of tomato paste

1/4 – 1/2 of pepper paste ( Turkish)*

1/4 of pekmez (Grape Molasses)**

1 tsp of black pepper

1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper

2 cups of water (enough to cover beans)

2 tbs of butter (or salt pork)
* Pepper Paste is a Turkish product, you can usually find it in international markets, if not substitute mustard or another product you like to instill a little heat.

**Grape Molasses does not have as strong a flavor as regular molasses, if you can’t find it try 3 tbs of regular molasses and some brown sugar, less than 1/4 cup.
It is not rocket science. Adjust to your taste, less sweet, more heat…etc.
Use a stew pot, add the olive oil to the pan, then the diced onions. Give them a couple of minutes to saute before you add the carrots. Saute until the onions are translucent, add the butter, then add the garlic. Give it a few moments then add the wet ingredients, the spices, and then the beans. Bring it to a boil, and simmer until the beans are tender, and the liquid has evaporated into a thicker consistency.
A very inexpensive meal, and pretty tasty (we both liked it). If there are not food restrictions I would use salt pork, it would probably add a richer flavor.