Green beans never tasted this good. Using fresh, frozen, or canned green beans this southern recipe brings so much flavor to the table it will become an instant family favorite.
Prep Time 15 minutesmins
Cook Time 30 minutesmins
Ingredients
2lbs.Fresh or Frozen Canned Green Beans(if using fresh remove the ends and cut into bite-size pieces)
1/2small Vidalia Onion or yellow oniondiced
2tbspbutter
1/4tspblack pepper
1small ham hock
salt to taste
Instructions
If using fresh green beans, remove the ends. Then break each bean up into smaller bite sized pieces. If using frozen green beans this step is not necessary as they are already chopped for you.
Place desired type of green beans into a medium stock pot along with onion, butter, black pepper, and ham hock.
Cover with water.
Heat on stove until the beans begin to boil.
Cover, reduce heat to low-medium. Let simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until beans have reached desired tenderness.
Remove ham hock and discard after cooking.
Ham Hock Substitutes: What to use if you can't find a Ham Hock?
If you are unable to locate a ham hock at your local grocer, an alternative that we use here in the South is Goya Ham Flavored Concentrated Seasoning. Instead of adding the ham hock to the green beans, stir in one packet of Goya Ham Seasoning. For a more intense ham flavoring, two packets of Goya Ham Seasoning can be used.
A better alternative to Goya's Ham Flavoring packets would be the Better Than Boullion Ham Base. I love their chicken base for soups so this would be perfect for southern style green beans as well. I would start with a teaspoon of the ham base in place of the ham hock in this recipe. The amount of ham base used may need to be adjusted based on personal taste preferences. I would not exceed 2 teaspoons of Better Than Boullion Ham Base for 2 lbs. of green beans.
If you can't find a ham hock, Goya's Ham Seasoning, or Better Than Boullion Ham Base another alternative would be bacon (thick cut, preferred). Chop up two or three pieces of bacon. Cook the bacon until crispy in a large pot, the same one you are going to make your green beans in. Once the bacon is fully cooked add the green beans, onion, butter, and pepper. Cover with water and cook according to the directions above.