When you can buy ready prepared baked beans for as little as 13p a tin it may seem like madness to make your own. Until that is you take a closer inspection of the label.

Commercially prepared baked beans are often high in salt and sugar. (Some have as many as 4 teaspoons of sugar and almost as much salt as a young child should eat in a whole day). These beans contain a fraction of that amount and I think you (and your family will agree) after you have experienced what baked beans can really taste like there really will be no going back!

Serves 15-20

Preparation time 10 minutes

Cooking time 1- 1.25 hours

4 x 425g cans beans, try, haricot, cannellini, flageolet, borlotti, or black eyed beans
3 medium sized onions, peeled and finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
1-1.5 tsp paprika
1.5 - 2 tbsp molasses, black treacle or dark muscovado sugar
3 tbsp or to taste, tomato purée
4 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Freshly prepared brown toast, to serve

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4, 10 minutes before cooking. Drain the beans and rinse thoroughly. Place the beans into a large oven proof dish. Add all the remaining ingredients and cover with 500ml boiling water.

Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for 1 - 1.25 hours. Stir occasionally during cooking. The sauce should be thick and rich in taste and texture. Adjust seasoning if necessary with extra Worcestershire sauce if using and molasses if slightly bitter. Remove from oven. Serve immediately on freshly prepared brown toast.

Cooks tip: These beans would be ideal as an accompaniment to grilled fish, burgers or chicken, or served on top of a baked sweet potato or as a meal on their own with a little grated Cheddar cheese.

If wishing to freeze, allow to cool before spooning into containers. Label and freeze once cold. Store for up to 1 month.

Alternative serving suggestions:

Mash in half a can of mackerel per child.

Try adding some chopped herbs such as parsley, or coriander or a mixture of thyme, sage and oregano at end of cooking time.

Spicy - Add ¬Ω teaspoon of chilli powder before cooking - or add some wholegrain mustard if serving to adults- add 1 tablespoon or to taste of wholegrain mustard

Meaty - Add chopped grilled bacon, ham or sliced premium quality sausage at the end of cooking and ensure that the meat or sausage is thoroughly cooked and piping hot.

Fishy - flake a drained can of mackerel, or mashed sardines or flaked tuna.