Dish Description
This is my favorite southern side dish. The flavor is perfect and kids and adults love it.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 or 4 ham hocks, ham end pieces or ham bone,
- 3 pounds of fresh green beans, cleaned and snapped
- 6 to 8 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- salt & pepper to taste
Directions
- Place ham hocks or shanks in enough water to cover and simmer for 2 hours
- Remove and set aside to cool. Keep the broth
- When cool enough to handle, cut meat into chunks
- In a large heavy pot, melt butter on medium-high
- Add ham and cook until meat is tender and has browned
- Turn down heat to medium and add green beans and broth from the cooked ham hocks (enough to cover)
- Add water if there is not enough broth
- Cover and cook beans for about an hour
- Add, sugar, salt, and pepper and stir well
- Remove the lid for the last 10 minutes of cook time