A pork jowl is a fatty piece of meat taken from the side of a hog's head. This meat is usually smoked and added to various dishes, such as beans or greens to add flavor. Using pork jowls as a method of seasoning food is typically a Southern cooking tradition. You can cook with pork jowel quite simply so that your special dishes receive a rich, hearty flavor.
Place beans or greens in a large pot and cover them with water.
Add pieces of pork jowl to the pot. If the jowl isn't already cut, cut it into cubes approximately 1 inch square.
Add salt and pepper to the greens and jowls to taste. You may want to use salt conservatively, as some jowls are already salted.
Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the burner's temperature and simmer the contents of the pot according to the directions for the vegetables or beans you are cooking. Most of these dishes require one to three hours of cooking time for optimal tenderness and seasoning.
