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Butter Beans with Ham Hocks

Southern Butter Beans with Ham Hocks

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Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb dried large lima or butter beans
  • 1 tbsp bacon grease or butter
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • ⅔ cup diced celery
  • ¼ cup diced carrot
  • 1 ½ cups chopped smoked ham
  • 2 ham hocks
  • 1 32-ounce carton chicken broth
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ½ tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Soak beans for 1 hour.
  • Sauté veggies in bacon grease.
  • Add ham, ham hocks, broth, and seasonings. Simmer 1 hour.
  • Add beans and cook another 60–90 minutes until creamy.
  • Shred ham from hocks and stir back in. Serve warm.

Notes

Add extra water if beans aren’t submerged while cooking. Flavor deepens as it sits overnight.