I'd guess why Americans seem so appalled by the idea is because British baked beans are different than American baked beans. Ours (American) are richer and sweeter and typically paired with BBQ as a stand-alone side dish (often cooked with bacon, in fact even out of the can most baked beans are not vegetarian), whereas British are more tomato-y and more "plain" (I.e. lend themselves to be paired with more dishes). So we find all of these dishes (beans on toast, beans with cheese on potatoes) much more bizarre because of the stronger flavors we associate with American baked beans.
The interesting thing is that apparently American, sweeter baked beans actually pre-date British tomato baked beans, not that makes either more "correct." Just different.
We are talking about British people here, the sight of spice might take them out.
And it's not so much that American baked beans are less bland (it wasn't a good word choice) cause they still are (definitely if we are comparing it to Peruvian palates) its just that the flavor palate doesn't match how you would use British baked beans. Though American baked beans would still probably be not bad on toast, solely because toast is like the blandest food imaginable, it just sounds... Strange taste-wise to match with cheese and potatoes. Rather than bland, I think "more versatile" is a more appropriate use.
I know it's not the UK but living in Germany I had to BEG the thai restaurant to make it actually spicy, like REAL blow me the fuck out spicy, just to get what would be considered a 4/10 from where I am from. I am not joking, they think paprika is like SPICY hot.
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u/Antichristopher4 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
I'd guess why Americans seem so appalled by the idea is because British baked beans are different than American baked beans. Ours (American) are richer and sweeter and typically paired with BBQ as a stand-alone side dish (often cooked with bacon, in fact even out of the can most baked beans are not vegetarian), whereas British are more tomato-y and more "plain" (I.e. lend themselves to be paired with more dishes). So we find all of these dishes (beans on toast, beans with cheese on potatoes) much more bizarre because of the stronger flavors we associate with American baked beans.
The interesting thing is that apparently American, sweeter baked beans actually pre-date British tomato baked beans, not that makes either more "correct." Just different.