Asturian Pork and Beans

• MAKE-AHEAD

Ingredients

1. 1 large onion, peeled
2. 1 head of garlic
3. 1 pound dried fabes, cannellini or other large white beans—picked over, rinsed and soaked overnight
4. 1 tablespoon pimentón (smoked paprika)
5. 1 large pinch of saffron threads, crushed
6. 1 meaty fresh ham hock (1 pound)
7. 1/2 pound slab bacon, in 1 piece
8. 1/2 pound semi-dry Spanish-style chorizos
9. Salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Drain the beans and transfer them to a large enameled cast-iron casserole. Add the onion, garlic, pimentón, crushed saffron, ham hock, bacon and 12 cups of cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer the stew, tucking the ham hock under the cooking liquid as necessary, until the beans are almost tender, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
2. Add the chorizos to the bean stew and cook until the meat and beans are tender and the cooking liquid is thick and slightly reduced, about 45 minutes longer.
3. Discard the onion and garlic and transfer the meat to a bowl. Pull the meat from the ham hock and cut it into large pieces. Cut the bacon and chorizos into pieces. Add the meat to the beans and season lightly with salt and pepper.