How To Cook Lima Beans

Lima beans are mostly served during thanksgiving. During Sundays, lima beans were served as a side dish along with the kinfolk's meal. Most people refer to the lima beans as butter beans. The south of the US has seen the lima beans wildly popular more than other regions although they can be cooked and served anywhere and at any time if they are done so well. Recent lima beans recipes do not prepare the lima beans the traditional way that they were previously cooked. They used to be cooked into a mash and then over salted while the modern recipe has the lima beans prepared in such a way that they are between mush and hard conditions. The mushy lima beans are in no way bad, so if that is the way you like them well and good although the following recipe produces beans that are halfway between the mushy ones and those hard ones.

Lima beans have a greater southern heritage than anticipated as they were being consumed and grown in South America long time ago i.e. thousands of years ago even before they came to the north. Fresh beans are the best option despite the fact that they require lots of work like shelling before they are ready. In case you find it hard to get some fresh limas, always go for those frozen or dry ones that are sold in the local stores. Once in the store, you will find both baby and large lima beans in which case you are advised to go for the baby limas as they are more mush resistant as opposed to the large ones though they are also good. Here's how to cook lima beans. Dry lima beans should be soaked in water for a period of 5 hours or preferably overnight for those who can.

Dried limas will double in volume as a result of the water that they soak up which is an important factor to remember since a cup of dry Lima will be equal to two after soaking. If you ever visit the south and patronize a home style cafeteria, this is the way your lima beans are likely to be presented to you. These are the ingredients that you will need: 1 or 2 ham hocks, 1 large clove of garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon cooking oil, 1 lb. lima beans, large or small (dried limas are in 1-lb. Packages), 1 chopped onion.

Start off by soaking the lima beans overnight in case you are using dried beans. Have the lima beans rinsed in a colander under some cold running water. Using a large pot put some water and ensure to cover the lima beans with the water and bring to the boil for 5 minutes. Have the beans removed from the water, cover them and let them cool down. Remember to cool the beans off. Take the pot and saut? the onion, ham hocks and garlic until the onions brown. Take the beans together with some water, salt and black pepper and boil for an hour or two.

By: Louise Kalyn

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This article touched the basics of the topic. I have 2 more resources related to the above. They are how to cook lima beans and shephards pie. Do consider reading them.