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Southern-Style Baby Lima Beans

By Amanda Luchtel

Published on December 21, 2022

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Southern-Style Baby Lima Beans

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces4 cups chicken broth 1½ pounds frozen baby lima beans 1¼ cups water 1 onion, halved1 teaspoon pepper ¾ teaspoon table salt

Before You Begin

Do not thaw the baby lima beans before cooking.

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon in large saucepan over medium heat until lightly browned and fat has rendered, 7 to 10 minutes. Add broth, lima beans, water, onion, pepper, and salt. Bring to boil over high heat.
  2. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until beans just begin to break down and liquid is thickened, about 1 hour (liquid will continue to thicken as it sits). Discard onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Southern-Style Baby Lima Beans
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Elle Simone Scott.

Southern-Style Baby Lima Beans

Save

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 cups chicken broth
1½ pounds frozen baby lima beans
1¼ cups water
1 onion, halved
1 teaspoon pepper
¾ teaspoon table salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 cups chicken broth
1½ pounds frozen baby lima beans
1¼ cups water
1 onion, halved
1 teaspoon pepper
¾ teaspoon table salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 cups chicken broth
1½ pounds frozen baby lima beans
1¼ cups water
1 onion, halved
1 teaspoon pepper
¾ teaspoon table salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity: Frozen baby lima beans are cooked low and slow, seasoned with a few strips of bacon and wedges of onion in the pot. The resulting beans and their smoky, thick, peppery broth are complex and deeply comforting. Stirring frequently as the beans cooked emulsified the bacon fat into the broth, giving it a silky texture. This Southern-style dish is great as a side or as a main course served over white rice.

Before You Begin

Do not thaw the baby lima beans before cooking.

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon in large saucepan over medium heat until lightly browned and fat has rendered, 7 to 10 minutes. Add broth, lima beans, water, onion, pepper, and salt. Bring to boil over high heat.
  2. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until beans just begin to break down and liquid is thickened, about 1 hour (liquid will continue to thicken as it sits). Discard onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

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