Old Fashioned Butter Beans Ham Food

SOUTHERN BUTTER BEANS RECIPE

Steps:

• Now, you can choose to soak the beans overnight if you want, but you really don't have to. Either way, the first step is to wash the beans, and then put them in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover and let it sit for 1 hour.
• After the beans have sat, drain the water and put the beans to the side. Add the oil to the pot and sauté the ham hocks and onions together, until the onion is clear and tender. Then add garlic and sauté about 2 minutes more. Add the beans and cover with water. Add pepper and salt (only about 1 teaspoon of salt at first).
• Bring to a boil; stir, reduce heat, and cover and simmer for about 2 hours. Keep checking the water level and stirring every once in a while. Add more water if needed. Keep that water just about an inch above the beans. Cook until beans are tender, more salt here is optional. And oh the gravy this makes, oh my... so good! Serve over rice

OLD FASHIONED BUTTER BEANS

Steps:

• The night before you plan to prepare your beans, they will need to be soaked. Use a large bowl or pot, with about a gallon of water, add 1-2 Tbsp baking soda and 1-2 Tbsp salt. I have been advised by many cooks to use soda, and others have said to use salt. I found it best to use both, and the results have been less noisy if you know what mean.Once you have completed soaking the beans it is now time to clean and rinse them. Place the colander into the sink. Pour the beans into the colander and remove any broken or odd-looking beans and discard them. Be sure to rinse them very well.
• Next, chop the ham and the onion.
• Then prepare the celery and carrots. Place them into a bowl and set them aside.
• Now, put the pot on the stove and turn on the heat to medium-low. Add the oil, onion, and ham. Saute until the onions begin to clarify.
• Next, add in the carrots and celery. Then add the cleaned and rinsed beans.
• Quickly add 4-6 quarts of water or until the beans are submerged. Then mix in the seasonings. Bring the pot to a boil for at least 15 minutes and stir to heat up the ingredients. Turn down to cook on medium to medium-low heat for at least 2-2½ hours. This will allow them to be tender to the touch and completely cooked. Be sure to check the pot at least every 15 to 20 minutes. When stirring your beans, use a large metal spoon. If you stir them from the bottom to the top, it will help to prevent them from sticking or burning throughout the cooking process.
• Once the beans are tender, and slightly mushy and the soup is like a thick gravy like stew, they are done. Serve with fried potatoes, corn bread, or plain.
• Enjoy!

OLD FASHIONED BUTTER BEANS & HAM

Steps:

• Half fill a large saucepan with water and stir in the beans, ham hock, quartered onion, garlic and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered for 1 hour or until the beans are tender. Drain the beans, reserving all of the liquid and discarding the onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Transfer beans to a bowl and the ham hock to a cutting board. Cut the meat into small pieces (you should have about 1 cup). Discard the bones. In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and saute for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in the ham and enough bean liquid to make the beans soupy (about 2 cups); bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in the beans, hot sauce, and salt and pepper to taste; heat for 3 minutes or until hot. Ladle into bowls (I like to add a couple of drops of catsup) and serve with warm fresh homemade bread and butter.

OLD FASHIONED BEAN AND HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Put rinsed beans in pan and cover up to 2 inches past beans in large pot -- let sit overnight.
• Drain, put beans back in pot, add water and the rest of ingredients.
• Bring to boil, turn to simmer and cover.
• Simmer for at least 3 hours or until beans are soft.
• Take out bones and dice up any meat on bones and put back into pot -- You can add more ham if you want.
• Discard fat and bones.
• Season to taste with pepper and salt and parsley.