It's funny how memories of our loved ones are often linked with food. I fondly remember my Grandmother making the best fried chicken, but I also remember her always dishing up my least favorite dish: lima beans. It's true. I wasn't a lima bean lover. However, I've learned that they are actually delicious when prepared in different ways.
Lima beans get their name from Lima, Peru, where they originated as early as 1500. In the south and the U.K., it may be rare to find lima beans on the menu; rather in this region, they are referred to as "butter beans." What's the difference? Nothing other than the name. Lima beans come in different sizes and two main varieties: baby lima and the Fordhook. Both are pale green and kidney-shaped, but Fordhooks are slightly larger and a bit starchier, but fuller flavored.
If boring and bland is what you remember about this bean, try purchasing them in a different form. Lima beans may be sold fresh in their pod. To store, refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to one week and shell just before using. They may also be purchased dried, in which they will need to be soaked overnight and simmered for 40-60 minutes. Frozen and canned beans are also available for quick preparation.
Lima beans are packed with good nutrients. One cup has just 100 calories, but five grams protein and six grams fiber. If the basic butter bean recipe below doesn't tickle your fancy, try them in a mixed dish like a succotash with fresh corn, tomatoes and onion. Lima beans can add flavor to any vegetable soup and they can even be roasted in the oven until they are almost crunchy. Give lima beans a second chance. I did, and now I'm hooked!
Basic Butter Beans (Printable PDF)
2 pounds baby lima beans, fresh in the shell, or one 10-ounce package, frozen
2 cups water
½ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons butter
¼ teaspoon black pepper
If using fresh lima beans, shell the beans and wash thoroughly. Pour water and salt in a medium saucepan; add the beans. Cook the beans until tender, about 30 minutes; drain. (If using frozen beans, skip this step and cook according to package directions.) Stir in butter and pepper. Sprinkle lightly with salt if necessary.
Yield: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving): 110 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 200 milligrams sodium, 13 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 5 grams protein
FAQs
Let's start by setting the record straight: Lima beans and butter beans are the same thing. Native to Central and South America, the flat, kidney-shaped legumes get one name from the capital of Peru and the other from colloquial use.
Which is better butter beans or lima beans? ›
There is no difference between lima beans and butter beans, though you can find them for sale at different stages of maturity. The younger green-hued beans, usually identified as baby lima beans, have a starchy texture similar to raw fava beans (which some describe as mealy). You can consume them fresh or cooked.
Are butter beans and lima beans in the same family? ›
You'll see them labeled in different ways in the store, after all: frozen lima beans, canned butter beans, dried large limas—or is it dried large butter beans? Turns out, lima beans and butter beans are the same thing. Both terms refer to the same species, Phaseolus lunatus.
What's another name for butter beans? ›
A lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), also commonly known as butter bean, sieva bean, double bean or Madagascar bean, is a legume grown for its edible seeds or beans.
How do you use lima beans in a sentence? ›
Example Sentences
- Also there's something familiar about the bushy eyebrows and the lima bean ears.
- The mast Bunny had made was only a piece of a lima bean pole, and the sail was only an old bag.
- Seeds borne in large pods shaped like a lima bean about ten inches long.
However, they may contain harmful compounds like anti-nutrients and linamarin, which may cause digestive issues if eaten in high amounts. Always soak raw or dried lima beans before you cook them. Like other legumes, lima beans can enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet.
What are the best beans to consume? ›
The 7 Healthiest Beans to Eat, According to Dietitians
- Lentils. Lentils are rich in polyphenols, plant-based compounds that have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. ...
- White Beans. ...
- Black Beans. ...
- Chickpeas. ...
- Pinto Beans. ...
- Red Kidney Beans. ...
- Lupini Beans.
Well, rest assured; the two are actually one in the same. There's no difference between lima beans and butter beans, though sometimes they're sold at different stages of maturity.
Are butter beans healthy? ›
Butter Beans are a fantastically healthy ingredient – they're high in protein and fibre, and they're an excellent source of carbohydrates. Low in fat and calories but high in folate, starch and iron, they're one of the best store cupboard ingredients there is.
Why do my lima beans taste bitter? ›
Expert Response. You should not eat limas if they are bitter because they are probably high in cyanogenic glucosides. Normally this is only a problem in wild limas, but can occur in cultivated varieties even though lima bean breeders do have to measure cyanide content before they release a new variety.
Lima Beans. While they're all the same bean botanically, butter beans have different names depending on the region. In the South and in the United Kingdom, they're typically referred to as butter beans. Elsewhere in the U.S., they're known as lima beans (named for Lima, Peru, the bean's point of origin).
Do you have to soak butter beans before cooking? ›
HOW TO MAKE. They're about as easy to cook as any other bean. Sort, rinse, soak (or not), and cook.
What are butter beans called in Italy? ›
Butter beans, or in Italian: Bianchi di Spagna, are a variety of lima bean known for their firm, buttery texture and robust nature.
What do lima beans do to your body? ›
Also, lima beans are rich in antioxidants called polyphenols that can help improve the way your heart and blood vessels work, boost levels of healthy HDL cholesterol, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, and fight inflammation. Anemia is a blood disorder that can be caused by not getting enough iron in your diet.
What is the difference between butter and lima beans? ›
Other than what they're called and sometimes their color, butter beans and lima beans are exactly the same. Their species is called Phaseolus lunatus and the difference in their name is only a matter of geography. In the American South and the United Kingdom, they're butter beans.
What is the first thing one should do when cooking the lima beans? ›
Cooking dried lima beans is simple. For a fast cooking time, just soak them in water overnight, drain and cover with fresh water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for an hour and then use the beans however you'd like!
Are butter beans healthy for you? ›
Butter beans are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are important for overall health. A source of potassium, magnesium, folate, iron, and zinc, they also contain calcium and protein. Both plant-based foodies and meat-lovers can really benefit from adding butter beans to their diet.
Do butter beans lower blood pressure? ›
One potassium-rich food recommended by the American Heart Association to help lower blood pressure is butter beans - also known as lima beans. For every 100 grams of butter beans there are 508 milligrams (mg) of potassium.
Are butter beans healthier than pasta? ›
Beans tend to be healthier than pasta since they contain more nutrients than white pasta alone. Similar to chickpeas and lentils, beans are excellent sources of fiber and plant-based protein. Easily incorporated into various dishes, beans have several health benefits including promoting a healthy gut and heart.
