Ingredients:

  • 1 pound dried Great Northern beans, rinsed
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 ham hock or ham bone (smoked or unsmoked)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, or more to taste

Instructions:

  1. Rinse the beans in a colander. Add the rinsed beans to a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the water, ham hock or ham bone, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 3 hours, or until the beans are very tender and easily mashed.
  2. Taste the beans and add more salt and pepper as needed. Remove ham bone or ham hock. Shred any meat off the bone and add back to the pot. Stir well.
  3. Serve hot as a side dish or main course.