Hearty Ribs and Bean Bake

Warm up with a hearty, satisfying meal of oven-braised, thick and meaty country-style ribs with two types of beans.

Recipe Ingredients:

3 to 3 1/2 pounds pork country style ribs
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
3 cups cooked*, drained small white beans or 2 (16-ounce) cans, drained
3 cups cooked*, drained red kidney beans or 2 (16-ounce) cans, drained
1 to 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced celery
1 sweet red or green pepper, cut in thin strips

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place ribs in 13 x 9-inch baking dish; add 1/4 cup water. Cover tightly and bake for 1 1/4 hours; remove to absorbent paper. Pour off cooking liquid and reserve.
3. Combine tomato sauce, onion soup mix, brown sugar, prepared mustard and hot pepper sauce in small saucepan and cook slowly 10 minutes.
4. Remove excess fat from cooking liquid; add enough water to remaining liquid to make 1 cup. Stir into tomato sauce mixture.
5. Combine small white and red kidney bean mixture into baking dish. Arrange ribs on top of bean mixture; brush with sauce. Cover tightly and bake at 350°F (175°C), 30 to 45 minutes; remove to warm platter.

Makes 6 servings.

*For best results, soak and cook dry beans by preferred method.

Recipe provided courtesy Calilfornia Dry Bean Board.