Adding smoked paprika to baked beans delivers a rich, smoky flavour that transforms the British staple into something that feels like an entirely new dish, and it costs just an extra 14p per serving.
Baked beans are a quintessentially British staple, equally at home atop a jacket potato or alongside a full English breakfast. Their hearty, savoury taste is wonderful on its own, yet there's one addition that can make them considerably more satisfying.
Why smoked paprika works
One of the greatest appeals of baked beans is their versatility — you can introduce all manner of ingredients, from Worcestershire sauce to garlic powder, to elevate them further. However, the finest addition to baked beans is an altogether different spice.
It demands virtually no extra effort, yet delivers a wonderfully smoky depth that transforms baked beans into something that feels like an entirely new dish.
The secret ingredient is smoked paprika. This superb spice is produced from ripe red peppers, which are slowly roasted over several days and smoked above an oak fire. They are subsequently dried and ground into a fine powder, imparting an incredible rich, smoky flavour to whatever dish they grace.
A cheap and simple upgrade
In baked beans, smoked paprika accentuates the tomato sauce, and combined with salt and pepper, can elevate the humble baked bean from ordinary to genuinely extraordinary.
It's a quick and cheap way to jazz up the dish. A standard 50g jar of smoked paprika from Tesco is £1, so this hack works out to costing just an extra 14p.
How to make seasoned baked beans
If you'd like to give it a go, you'll need:
- One tin of baked beans
- One tbsp of smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Over a medium heat, add your tinned baked beans to a saucepan. Add your smoked paprika and stir the pot thoroughly to combine them properly. Heat the beans through until they are just bubbling, then season with salt and pepper. Serve hot over whatever vehicle you want; either toast, a jacket potato or simply straight from the bowl.
