Navy Beans

[AZ Jim]

My wife (RIP honey) used to cook navy beans with ham hocks. I loved 'em. I would eat them for several days until gone. Since I lost her I have tried twice to cook them. I simply soaked the beans overnight, added the ham, slow cooked for about one hour, took the hocks out, cut away the fat and saved the meat. I then added the ham back with the pot of beans and cooked at low heat until the beans were soft. They just were missing something. Any ideas?

 

[SeaBreeze]

Seems to me an hour of cooking is not enough for the beans to get soft and the flavors to blend. But, I'm used to using a crock pot and letting them cook around 8 hours or more. Did you add seasonings, onions, garlic and everything? We used to use a can of crushed tomatoes to the beans for a different taste. We never used ham hocks, but used to use the bone of a cooked ham, now that we try to avoid the extra fat, we just use trimmed pieces of ham, like from a ham steak, and don't add it until late so it doesn't dry out.

 

[AZ Jim]

Seems to me an hour of cooking is not enough for the beans to get soft and the flavors to blend. But, I'm used to using a crock pot and letting them cook around 8 hours or more. Did you add seasonings, onions, garlic and everything? We used to use a can of crushed tomatoes to the beans for a different taste. We never used ham hocks, but used to use the bone of a cooked ham, now that we try to avoid the extra fat, we just use trimmed pieces of ham, like from a ham steak, and don't add it until late so it doesn't dry out.

I used no seasoning. I don't know what to add except salt and pepper.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Jim, we made some suggestions in your last thread about the beans here, maybe next time you can add the seasonings, they would be too bland otherwise, in my opinion. https://www.seniorforums.com/showthread.php/40873-I-know-they-won-t-match-my-late-wifes

 

[Grampa Don]

I fix this often. I cut an onion into chunks and put it in with the ham hocks and beans right at the start of cooking and simmer it all for two hours. The onion adds flavor. It doesn't really need salt. I like it served on a piece of bread with a squirt of ketchup. MMMMM!

Don

 

[AZ Jim]

Jim, we made some suggestions in your last thread about the beans here, maybe next time you can add the seasonings, they would be too bland otherwise, in my opinion. https://www.seniorforums.com/showthread.php/40873-I-know-they-won-t-match-my-late-wifes

Now I remember. I'll go to that post and try to use some of the ideas there. I don't mean to take up space with duplicate posts. I had forgotten I previously posted that. Thanks SB.

 

[SeaBreeze]

You're welcome, sorry they didn't come out great this time.

 

[chic]

Dare I say this, but you can get navy beans cooked in a can. Then add a bunch of seasonings and whatever you like to them and make any recipe you want. Add a little ketchup and bacon or cooked ham and make Rancheros, or garlic powder and a bay leaf and and a carrot and you've got bean soup. I use canned navy beans all the time. They're wonderful and it's a quick and easy nutritious meal for one and the leftovers taste better when the flavors blend. :love_heart: