Vegetarian Slow Cooker Baked Beans - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 pound dried navy beans
1 quart water
1 (4 inch) piece dashi kombu (dried kelp)
1 small onion
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1/2 cup dry mustard
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup molasses
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 cup hot water, or as needed
1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring, or to taste

Preparation

Combine beans in a large bowl with enough water to cover by 1 inch. Soak overnight.
Drain beans the next day and place in a pot with 1 quart fresh water and kombu. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Drain beans.
Place onion in a food processor and puree. Spread puree into the bottom of a slow cooker insert. Add drained beans and enough fresh water to cover.
Mix vinegar, dry mustard, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, and black pepper together in a bowl and stir this mixture into the slow cooker. Cover top with aluminum foil and slow cooker lid.
Cook on Low for 4 hours. During cooking, check every 1 to 2 hours to ensure beans are covered with water; add hot water as needed. At 4 hours, transfer 1 cup beans to a bowl and mash. Return mashed beans to the slow cooker. Continue to cook another 6 hours.
Stir in liquid smoke before serving.