BOURBON BROWN SUGAR BAKED BEANS
(Serves 6)
Ingredients
6 thick slices of bacon, about ½ pound
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 sweet onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
½ cup of bourbon
1 cup of light brown sugar
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 Fresno chiles, chopped
2 15-ounce cans of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed
Instructions
Preheat the pit to 250°F.
Cut the bacon slices crosswise into ¼-inch strips.
Sauté the bacon and place between paper towels.
Melt the butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent and beginning to brown at the edges.
Add the bourbon, sugar, salt and hot sauce.
Bring to a simmer while stirring constantly.
Stir in the Fresno chile, beans and bacon.
Put the skillet of beans in the pit's indirect zone.
Smoke the beans for 2 hours (below a pork butt if possible).