Ingredients

The following ingredients have 5 Servings
  • 2 quarts water
  • 2 meaty smoked ham hocks or ham bone
  • 2 pounds fresh green beans
  • 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon or base (like Better than Bouillon)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 3/4 cup country ham, tasso, or baked ham, pulled or chopped, optional
  • 1 pound red-skinned potatoes, chopped into chunks (about 3-4 medium)
  • 1/4 teaspoon of Creole or Cajun seasoning, or to taste, optional
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of butter or bacon fat, to finish, optional

Instruction

  • Fill pot with water and add ham bone or hocks. Bring to a boil, reduce to a medium boil and cook for 30 minutes. Reserve water, skimming off any accumulated foam.
  • Meanwhile, rinse, trim and snap green beans in half or thirds. Add to pot, along with chicken base, pepper and onion, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a very low simmer, and cook, uncovered for 1 hour.
  • Remove hocks and set aside, once cool enough to handle, pull any meat off and add to pot.
  • Add potatoes and continue cooking until tender, about 25 minutes.
  • Taste, add Cajun seasoning, if using, and taste again, adjusting for salt and pepper.
  • Finish by stirring in the butter or bacon fat, if desired, and transfer with some of the pot likker to a serving bowl.