Heinz Five Beanz review

Heinz Baked Beans have been a store-cupboard staple for generations of mums but they have a new kid on the block, a more refined grown-up version called Heinz Five Beanz.

As the name suggests, they are a mix of five different beans - Red Kidney, Haricot, Pinto, Borlotti and Cannelini - all covered in the same (although slightly darker red) tomatoey sauce that classic baked beans come in.

They look similar enough to normal beans for kids to find them reassuringly familiar but enable you to jazz up  simple dishes and casseroles within seconds. I've just made an instant Sausage Casserole by cooking some sausages in the Actifry (I love the way all the fat comes out), draining the oil, adding in some chopped onions for a few minutes then stirring in a can of Five Beanz and a can of regular Baked Beans. Everyone keeps coming in the kitchen asking when we'll be eating because it looks and smells (and tastes - I had a sneaky spoonful !) gorgeous and was really quick to throw together after a busy day at work.

As you can see from the photo above, they are just as low in calories as regular baked beans (87 calories per 100g for Five Beanz compared to 79 for normal baked beans) and contain a bit more fibre and protein. They're almost fat-free so they're a great diet-buddy.

Heinz kindly sent us through a fabulous pack to try out their new Five Beanz containing a funky shopping bag, a brilliant Heinz Beans plate (I was gutted to see it cracked in the post though - sniff !), a can each of their new Five Beanz and their regular beans, as well as some snap pots of beans which I had never bought before but which are brilliant for a single serving or when 11-year-old Sophie needs to cook her own lunch under strict instructions to use only the microwave and not switch on the oven or the gas.

A unique pop-up dining experience also touched down in London last week to celebrate the launch of Heinz Five Beanz with guests, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, tucking into an exclusive Tea Time for Grown Upz menu. An incredible 250 kilograms (!) of Heinz Five Beanz were shipped in especially for the event with 120 lucky guests bagging a seat. The nostalgic setting, complete with childhood mementos such as Smash Hits magazine, Nintendo GameBoys and retro board games, helped diners to re-live the tastes and memories of childhood... but with a grown-up twist.

The special menu was made up of grown up twists on classic kiddie faves :

Main Courses

Heinz FIVE Beanz on Toast

Heinz FIVE Beanz Sitting on Toasted Focaccia with Fried Quail Eggs and Parmesan Crisps

Heinz FIVE Beanz with Fish ‘n’ Chips

Soda Water Battered Pollock with Twice Cooked Chips with Heinz FIVE Beanz

Heinz FIVE Beanz with Chicken Nuggets

Tarragon Chicken Goujons with Stilton Crumb Served with

Sweet Potato Wedges and Heinz FIVE Beanz

Pudding

Knickerbocker Glory

Passion Fruit and Mango Jelly with Ice Creams

“Angel Delight” Neopolitan

Trio of Homemade Mousses, Butterscotch, Fresh Strawberry & Dark Chocolate with Popping Candy Biscuits

I think my Sausage Casserole would have fitted in perfectly with the event !

star rating : 5/5

RRP : 84p for 415g

for more information : http://www.heinz.co.uk/ourfood/beans/heinzbeanz/five-beanz

Disclosure : I received some Heinz Five Beanz to try out, along with the selection of goodies above, in order to write an honest review.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Heinz Barbecue Sauce recipe #1 : Marinated Chicken Wings
Limited edition Heinz Tomato Ketchup with Indian Spices review
Heinz Mayonnaise review (and Mayonnaise Baked Chicken recipe)