Southern Style Beans With Ham

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• cold water
• 1 lb dry pinto beans
• 1 1/2 tablespoons bacon fat
• 1 1/2 lbs smoked ham shank
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic clove, chopped
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 cups cold water
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked okay)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed rosemary
• 3/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 2 tablespoons pickled pepper brine

Recipe

• 1 place beans in in a large heavy pot with an accompanying lid; cover beans with 2 inches cold water; bring to a boil (uncovered); boil 2 minutes; drain; rinse well with running cold water.
• 2 return beans to pot; cover beans with cold water again; bring to boiling again for 2 minutes uncovered; drain in colander; rinse well with running cold water; allow to drain until needed.
• 3 in the same large heavy pot over medium heat, add the bacon fat until sizzling; add ham shanks and cook, turning, until evenly seared, about 7 minutes; remove shanks with tongs; set aside.
• 4 add onions and bay leaf; cook, stirring, for 5 minutes; add garlic and drained beans; cook for just one minute, stirring.
• 5 sprinkle bean mixture with 1/4 cup all-purpose flour while stirring; toss mixture well.
• 6 pour in 6 cups cold water; stir in the remaining seasonings except the salt and pickled pepper brine.
• 7 bring to a full rolling boil; reduce heat between low and medium-low (no higher than the numeric "2" setting on stovetop turn-dial); cover.
• 8 simmer for 2 hours without lifting lid.
• 9 uncover beans and stir; beans should be creamy and the meat should easily fall off of the bones (if desired, continue cooking and stirring uncovered, to desired consistency); clean meat from bone portion of meat (discard bones); remove bay leaf; season beans to taste with salt and pickled pepper brine; stir well and cook 5 additional minutes; season with a pinch of black pepper if desired.
• 10 serve and enjoy!