How to Cook Fresh Butter Beans

Butter beans are one of the softer varieties of beans and when fresh don't require a soaking time prior to cooking. Also known as lima beans, butter beans have a smooth, creamy texture and absorb seasonings well. Butter beans are typically served in the south as a side dish and flavored with ham hocks, sausage or bacon, but they also do well in a vegetarian stock using fresh herbs or with a strong mushroom like a morel.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan or small stockpot
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• ½ cup onion, diced
• ½ cup celery, diced
• ½ cup bacon, diced
• 1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. sage
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 4 cups water or stock
• 2 cups fresh butter beans

Instructions

1. Saute the onion, celery and garlic with the butter and cook until the vegetables become clear and soft. Do not allow the onions to brown.

2. Add the bacon and cook on low to medium heat for one to two minutes. Don't let the bacon crisp; turn the heat down if you need to.

3. Stir in the herbs and spices and cook for another minute.

4. Pour in the water (or stock) and add the butter beans to the pot.

5. Bring the mixture up to a boil and then back down to a light simmer.

6. Cover the pot and cook for 45 minutes to an hour, checking on it periodically to make sure the water hasn't boiled out of the pot.

7. Remove the beans from the heat once they are fork tender. Butter beans can be overcooked and lose their texture, so you'll want to stop cooking them once they can be easily mashed with a fork.

Tips & Warnings

• Salt the beans to taste after they have been cooked tender. Salting beforehand can toughen the skins. Also, the salt in the bacon may be sufficient here.

References

• Central Bean Co.
• Never Enough Thyme

Resources

• CDC: Beans and Nutrition Information
• Beans and Herbs: Recipes