138 GOURMET TRAVELLER
Greenbeans
SERVES6 ASA SIDE“Thesebeansarebraisedlowandslowwithsomesaltyporkuntilthey’repractically
falling apart, and by the time they’re ready, the umami flavour is off the charts.”4 cupsvegetablestock
230 gmsmokedhamhock
900 gmfreshgreenbeans,
stringsremovedandbeans
cutinto2cmpieces
3 tbsprenderedfreshlard
1 tbspseasalt,ortotaste
1 tspfreshlyground
black pepperBiscuits
MAKES 14“Biscuitscanbeextremely
personal.Thisis howI like
them:witha lotofcrunch
anda littlebitoffluff.”
Pictured p135.8 tbspunsaltedbutter
3⅓ cupsself-raisingflour,plus
moreforrollingthedough
½ tspseasalt
1½ tspfreshlyground
blackpepper
1½ cupsverycold
full-fatbuttermilk1 Freezebutterfor 20 minutes
oruntilsolidenoughtograteon
thelargeholesofa boxgrater.
Gratebutterintoa container,
coverandreturntothefreezer.
2 Preheatovento250°C.Line
a bakingtraywithbakingpaper.
3 Combineflour,saltand
pepperina largebowlandmix
well.Workthefrozenbutterinto
theflourwithyourfingertips
untilthepiecesofbutterare
aboutthesizeofpeas.Addthe
buttermilkandstiruntilthe
doughjustcomestogether.
4 Turndoughoutontoa lightly
flouredsurface.Lightlysprinkle
thedoughwithflourand,using
a lightlyflouredrollingpin,roll
thedoughouttoa rectangle
about12mmthick.Fold
one-thirdofthedoughover
thecentrethird,thenfoldthe
oppositesideoverthat.Roll
doughoutagaintoa 12mm-thick
rectangle.Repeatfoldingand
rollingprocessoncemore.
5 Cutoutthebiscuitswithan
8cmroundcutter,flouringit
betweencutsif necessary,and
placethemontheprepared
bakingtray.Refrigeratethe
biscuitsfor5 minutes.
6 Transferbiscuitstotwo25cm
cast-ironskillets,seventoa
pan.Thebiscuitsshouldjust
barelytouchoneanother.
Bakeuntilrisenandgolden
brown(10-12minutes).
Serveimmediately.
NoteForbestresults,bakethe
biscuitsintwo25cmcast-iron
skilletsasdirectedintherecipe.
If necessary,youcanbakethem
on a heavy baking tray.1 Combinevegetablestockand
hamhockina largepotand
bringtoa boiloverhighheat.
Reduceheattolowandsimmer,
covered,todevelopthe
flavours(1 hour).
2 Addbeans,lard,saltand
peppertothepotandbringtoa
simmer. Reduce the heat to low,cover,andcookuntilthebeans
areverytender,addingwaterif
neededtokeepthebeans
covered(about1 hour).Remove
fromthestoveandserve.Or
transfertoa container,coolto
roomtemperature,cover,and
refrigerateforupto3 days.
Reheat before serving.➤