Pinto Beans and Ham Hocks

jd_2077's Note:

I grew up in a household inspired by southern cooking. I made these one night for my husband and served them with cornbread and collard greens. It takes a while to cook, but you don't have to stand at the stove the entire time.

• Total Time: 8 hrs
• Prep Time: 4 hrs
• Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 2 cups dried pinto beans
• 1 small red onion, sliced
• 1/2 large white onion, sliced
• 3 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• fresh ground black pepper
• salt, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 ham hocks
• water (adjustable)

Directions:

1. Soak beans in bowl for several hours or overnight. Rinse twice.
2. Place rinsed beans in large soup pan. Add sliced onion (both red and white), garlic, ham hocks, and basil to pan.
3. Cover beans with water.
4. Add Worcestershire, liquid smoke, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, adding water if necessary to keep beans covered.
6. Stir occasionally.
7. Discard ham hocks prior to serving.

Reviews

[The Miserable Gourmet]

This sounds like a stellar recipe, only, I dont understand why you would discard the ham hocks? The flavor of the meat on the hock, separated from the done, is just fabulous! Please don't throw away that fantastic flavor. Pull the meat from the bones, and add it to the beans!!! I can't wait to try this one tonight!....with a small variation...I will use a mix of dried beans, 1 ham bullion (knorr's is the best), celery stalks (which I will later discard), and a bit of wine!! YUM!

[Jeffsmom]

I used smoked turkey wings instead of ham hocks. This was seasoned very well. Thanks for the posting!