Ingredients

  • 4 ounces thick-sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch squares
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 5 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted ketchup
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons dry mustard
  • 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red chile paste)*
  • 1 1/2 cups dried Great Northern beans
  • 1/2 cup dried red lentils

Method

  • Heat bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook 8 minutes. Add onion, thyme, and garlic to pan. Cook 6 minutes. Add 5 cups water and next 6 ingredients (through gochujang); bring to a boil.
  • Place beans, lentils, and ketchup mixture in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 7 hours.
  • *If you don't have gochujang on hand or want to pass on the slight heat it brings, use tomato paste.