Smothered Country-Style Green Beans

Smothered Country-Style Green Beans

½ cup bacon grease or 4 strips of bacon cut into lardons
2 cups thinly sliced shallots or sweet onions
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 pounds green beans, strings removed, snapped into 1½-inch pieces and well rinsed
1 quart chicken stock

Melt the bacon grease over medium heat. Add the shallots, stirring to coat. Sprinkle with salt. Cook until almost translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the beans and stock, making sure that the stock covers the beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the stock is almost completely evaporated.  Add salt and lots of pepper to taste and serve hot.