Ham Hock and White Bean Stew

Ingredients for Ham Hock and White Bean Stew

• 3 medium shallots, thinly sliced into rings

• 120ml vegetable oil

• Kosher salt

• 120ml soured cream

• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 medium onions, halved through root ends

• 2 heads of garlic, halved crosswise

• 2 small carrots, trimmed, scrubbed

• 120ml dry white wine

• 1.1kg smoked ham hocks (about 4 medium)

• 1 bunch of thyme, stems tied together with kitchen twine

• 475ml corona or gigante beans, soaked overnight, drained

• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

• Chopped cornichons and/or dill sprigs (for serving

• optional)

Heat shallots and oil in a small saucepan over medium, swirling often, until shallots are deep golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Pour into a fine-mesh sieve set over a heatproof measuring glass. Give sieve a good shake, then spread out shallots on a paper towel to drain. Season with salt; let cool.

Stir soured cream, mustard, and honey in a small bowl until smooth; season with pepper. Cover and chill.

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Cook onions and garlic, cut side down, and carrots, turning carrots occasionally, until cut sides of onions and garlic are golden, about 4 minutes. Add wine, stirring to release any bits stuck on bottom of pot, and cook until reduced by two-thirds, about 2 minutes. Add ham hocks, thyme, beans, and 2150ml water. Season with several pinches of salt and lots of pepper and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid, leaving slightly askew so steam can escape, and cook, adjusting heat to maintain a very gentle simmer and skimming foam from surface as needed, until beans are tender and creamy and broth is very flavorful, 2–2 1/2 hours.

Remove pot from heat and transfer ham hocks to a cutting board. Let sit until cool enough to handle, then pull meat from bones and tear into bite-size pieces; discard fat, skin, and cartilage. Add meat and knuckle bones back to pot as you go. Let stew cool uncovered until no longer steaming. Cover pot and chill stew at least 12 hours (you can skip this step, but it will dramatically improve the flavour).

Gently reheat stew, covered, until barely simmering. Pluck out and discard bones, thyme, and garlic heads (don't worry about any cloves that may have escaped into stew). Season with more salt and pepper if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve with Frizzled Shallots, Honey-Mustard Cream, cornichons, and/or dill as desired.

Cream can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Stew can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.