Directions:
1. In a sizable pot, bring the chicken broth to a gentle boil. If the soulful depth of the South could be encapsulated in a scent, it would surely be found in the simmering whispers of this aromatic broth.
2. Add the ham hock to the pot. Let it swim and infuse the broth with all its smoky goodness. Now’s a fine time to let your mind wander to the days of smokehouses and the practiced patience of preserving meat.
3. Place the potatoes, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and optional red pepper flakes into the pot. Stir in the time-honored medley and cook for 10 minutes, just long enough to let the potatoes start to tenderize and the onions to clear like a misty morning making way for the sun.
4. Gently lay the green beans on top, ensuring they get to bask in the steam like a blanket of vibrant green over a quilt of hearty potatoes. Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the green beans reach your desired level of tenderness. Ponder on the simple pleasure of a vegetable cooked just right, a balance of snappy and soft that brings a smile with every bite.
5. Carefully remove the ham hock (if used), separating the meat from the bone. Stir the tender pieces back into the pot along with the apple cider vinegar to add a hint of tartness that cuts through the richness like a well-worn plow through fertile soil.
6. Serve warm, ladled with love and the rich broth that’s married with the essence of every component.
Variations & Tips:
– For a vegetarian twist, omit the ham hock or bacon and use a rich vegetable broth instead. A splash of liquid smoke can replicate that hauntingly good smoky flavor.
– Should fresh green beans be scarce, frozen ones can stand in, but make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly — they’ll need less simmering.
– To add a bit of crunch, top with toasted slivered almonds just before serving, bringing a textural contrast akin to the melee of soft and hardy you find in life’s rich tapestry.
Let this dish carry you back to a time when each meal was more than sustenance, it was a story. And every recipe, like this one, a time-honored chapter.
ADVERTISEMENT
