Un-baked beans

Living in France, it has been difficult to get hold of baked beans (unless you pay through the nose, or buy the French version, which are just not the same). This recipe is great because you can make them cheaply and you can adjust them to your taste…

1 medium onion (finely chopped)
1 carton of passata
2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon powder (or a large vegetable stock cube)
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon hot paprika
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
3-4 teaspoons brown sugar
Splash of soy sauce
splash tabasco
2x800g tins of haricot blancs
1 teaspoon herbs de provence
2 crushed garlic cloves
salt and pepper
tablespoon of potato flour, or potato flakes (instant mash!)

Fry onions until soft (not brown) add garlic, fry for further minute then add passata and other ingredients (apart from beans and potato flour).

Simmer gently to reduce. Taste and adjust seasoning. Blend sauce with hand blender, off the heat, then add beans (without rinsing) and warm through. Add potato flour and stir in, to really thicken up sauce.

Eat on toast. Yum.