Best 6 Southern Style Lima Beans Recipes

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**Southern-Style Lima Beans: A Savory Treat with a Hint of History**

Lima beans, also known as butter beans, are a staple ingredient in Southern cuisine, cherished for their creamy texture and mild, nutty flavor. This versatile legume takes center stage in a myriad of traditional recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish. From the simplicity of seasoned lima beans to the hearty indulgence of lima bean casserole, these recipes capture the essence of Southern comfort food. Whether you prefer a quick and easy side dish or a flavorful main course, you'll find a recipe here to satisfy your cravings.

In this culinary journey, we'll explore the diverse world of Southern-style lima beans. Discover the secrets behind perfectly cooked lima beans, seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, and brimming with a symphony of flavors. Delve into the richness of lima bean casserole, where tender beans are enveloped in a creamy sauce, topped with a golden-brown crust. Experience the delightful combination of lima beans and smoked turkey, united in a savory dish that pays homage to Southern tradition. And for those seeking a lighter option, indulge in the vibrant flavors of lima bean salad, a refreshing blend of crisp vegetables, tangy dressing, and the irresistible charm of lima beans.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

SOUTHERN LIMA BEANS WITH HAM



Southern Lima Beans with Ham image

This classic Southern Lima Bean recipe is a delicious side dish or budget-friendly entrée. The rich, smoky butter beans are flavored with a ham hock and slowly simmered until tender!

Provided by Blair Lonergan

Categories     Dinner     Lunch     Side Dish

Time 2h20m

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 lb. large dried lima beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 smoked ham hock, meat scored (about 12 ounces)
1 bay leaf
8 cups water
½ teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish: hot sauce; chopped fresh herbs
Optional, for serving: cornbread

Steps:

  • Rinse and sort the beans. Set aside.
  • In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
  • Add the rinsed beans, ham hock, bay leaf, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat slightly just so that it's at a low boil, and cook for 20 minutes. Reduce heat again just so that the liquid is simmering. Cover and cook for about 1 ½ hours, or until beans are tender. Check the beans after 1 hour, because they may be soft enough at that point if you like your beans a bit more firm. If you prefer the beans really soft and broken down, you may prefer to extend the cooking time to 2 hours. While the beans are cooking, check to occasionally make sure that the beans are covered with water (adding more water, if necessary). Discard bay leaf, remove ham hock from the pot, and shred or chop the meat. Return chopped meat to the pot with the beans. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish individual servings with hot sauce and herbs; serve with cornbread.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 285 kcal, Carbohydrate 39 g, Protein 17 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 16 mg, Sodium 210 mg, Fiber 11 g, Sugar 6 g

SOUTHERN STYLE BABY LIMA BEANS



Southern Style Baby Lima Beans image

Southern Style Baby Lima Beans are cooked low and slow with bacon and seasoned to perfection. This country delicacy is melt in your mouth deliciousness!

Provided by Nikki Lee - Soulfully Made

Categories     Sides

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 slices bacon (sliced)
1 1/2 cups chicken broth or stock
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/8 to 1/4 red pepper flakes ((optional))
16 ounces frozen baby lima beans
salt to taste

Steps:

  • In a large pot, slightly saute bacon about 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add remaining ingredients and stir. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer.
  • Cook for 30 minutes, stirring periodically. If needed add water. You do not need a lot of liquid, but you don't want them to burn. So add if necessary. Season with salt if desired.
  • Cook for another 30 minutes until buttery tender and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 1 serving, Calories 100 kcal, Carbohydrate 16 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Sodium 347 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 2 g, UnsaturatedFat 1 g

BABY LIMA BEANS (BUTTERBEANS)



Baby Lima Beans (Butterbeans) image

Provided by Trisha Yearwood

Categories     side-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 pounds baby lima beans, fresh in the shell, or one 10-ounce package, frozen
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon coarse ground pepper

Steps:

  • Shell the beans and wash thoroughly. Put 2 cups water and the salt in a medium saucepan and add the beans. Cook the beans until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain the liquid and add the butter. Sprinkle lightly with the black pepper before serving.

SOUTHERN LIMA BEANS WITH RICE



Southern Lima Beans With Rice image

I was born and raised in the south, and we eat a lot of beans. Here is a easy and basic lima bean recipe. We've been doing it this way for years. You can use ham hocks, hambones, smoked bacon or smoked sausage for the pork flavor in this dish. Also fresh, frozen or even canned beans can be used--they just won't have to cook as long.

Provided by southern chef in lo

Categories     Pork

Time 3h

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (1 lb) bag regular lima beans or 1 (1 lb) bag baby lima beans
1 medium onion, chopped
2 ham hocks or 1 leftover ham bone, with some meat still on it
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon black pepper
salt
1 tablespoon olive oil or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Steps:

  • I know the bag says to soak the beans overnight, but you really don't have to.
  • Wash the beans, and then put them in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover and let it sit for 1 hour.
  • After the beans have sat, drain the water and sit the beans to the side.
  • Add the oil to the pot and sauté the ham hocks and onions together, until onion is clear and tender, add garlic and sauté about 2 minutes more. Add the beans and cover with water.
  • Add pepper and salt--only about 1 teaspoon of salt at first.
  • Bring to a boil; stir, reduce heat and cover and simmer for about 2 hours.
  • Keep checking the water level and stirring every once in a while. Add more water if needed, but not too much.
  • Just enough to keep about 1 inch of water above the beans as they cook.
  • Cook until beans are tender, adding more salt if needed. The water will turn into a wonderful gravy. Serve over rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 62.5, Fat 1.9, SaturatedFat 0.3, Sodium 143.8, Carbohydrate 9.3, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 0.6, Protein 2.5

SLOW COOKER SOUTHERN LIMA BEANS AND HAM



Slow Cooker Southern Lima Beans and Ham image

I searched your website for the simple lima bean recipe that my mom used to make and the one that is served by many restaurants here in the south as a side dish. I couldn't find one, so I submitted my own. This is an easy, basic lima bean dish with ham, onion, and seasonings. Served over Mexican cornbread, it makes a delicious hearty meal. You can also do this on the stovetop. Just follow the directions on the back of the lima bean bag and add the seasonings. Slow cooker time is about 7 hours. Add a side salad for a complete meal.

Provided by mammak

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pork     Ham

Time 15h15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pound dried baby lima beans
2 quarts water
2 onions, coarsely chopped
1 meaty ham bone
1 cup leftover ham meat from bone, chopped
3 cups water, or as needed to cover
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt, or to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Soak lima beans in 2 quarts of water in a large bowl for 8 hours or overnight. The next day, drain the lima beans and place into a slow cooker with onions, ham bone, and ham. Pour in 3 cups of water or as needed to cover. Place lid on the cooker, set to High, and cook for 3 hours.
  • Stir in Cajun seasoning, black pepper, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper; set cooker to Low and cook until the beans and meat are very tender, about 4 more hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 133.2 calories, Carbohydrate 17.8 g, Cholesterol 9.4 mg, Fat 3.4 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 8.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 345.8 mg, Sugar 4.1 g

SOUTHERN STYLE LIMA BEANS



Southern Style Lima Beans image

Make and share this Southern Style Lima Beans recipe from Food.com.

Provided by lazyme

Categories     Ham

Time 8h15m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 lb dried large lima beans
3 smoked ham hocks
3 yellow onions, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (or more)
water, enough to cover

Steps:

  • Simmer beans in one to two quarts of water for 30 minutes, either in the crockpot on "high" heat or in another pot over the stove. The beans will have swelled and softened slightly.
  • Drain and put them into the crockpot.
  • Add remaining ingredients.
  • Cook four to eight hours on "auto-shift" or "low" heat.
  • At some point, remove the ham hocks and separate the bones and fat from the bits of meat, cutting up the meat to return to crockpot.
  • When done, this dish should resemble a stew with a thick broth. The beans should be soft, but not quite falling apart. If you cook it too long, it will be tasty but will resemble split pea soup.
  • Serve with biscuits or cornbread.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 420.2, Fat 1, SaturatedFat 0.2, Sodium 24.7, Carbohydrate 80.3, Fiber 23.2, Sugar 13.2, Protein 25.4

Tips:

  • Choose fresh or frozen lima beans: Fresh lima beans are best when they are young and tender. If using frozen lima beans, thaw them completely before cooking.
  • Soak dried lima beans: If using dried lima beans, soak them in water overnight or for at least 8 hours before cooking. This will help them to cook more evenly.
  • Cook lima beans until tender: Lima beans should be cooked until they are tender but still hold their shape. Overcooked lima beans will become mushy.
  • Season lima beans to taste: Lima beans can be seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices, such as salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and paprika. You can also add bacon, ham, or sausage for extra flavor.
  • Serve lima beans with your favorite sides: Lima beans can be served with a variety of sides, such as rice, mashed potatoes, or cornbread. They can also be added to soups, stews, and casseroles.

Conclusion:

Southern-style lima beans are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. With their creamy texture and mild flavor, lima beans are a great addition to any meal. Whether you choose to cook them fresh, frozen, or dried, there are many ways to enjoy this Southern classic. So next time you're looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give Southern-style lima beans a try!

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