Try this: simmer a ham hock with black beans, garlic, and a bay leaf for a few hours. Remove the hock, pick off the meat, and stir it back in. You get protein, fiber, and flavor—all in one pot.
Or toss it into a pot of collard greens with onions and vinegar. Southern cooking at its finest, and you’ll be getting a dose of vitamins A, C, and K from the greens. It’s basically health food disguised as comfort food.
