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A recipe for Butter Beans cooked southern-style with salt pork. The beans are slow-simmered and create a creamy-like sauce without adding any cream or milk.
Butter Beans Southern-Style Recipe
It was a typical family dinner at my in-law’s house. A big southern feast filled the table. Two main dishes were not uncommon.
The sides were plentiful including creamed corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, mashed sweet potatoes, and fried okra.
One thing was new to me and it was butter beans. I don’t remember ever having it as a kid.
One bite was all it took. Since then it is something I’ve looked forward to my mother-in-law cooking over the years.
There are two types of southern butter beans. One is made with fresh baby or small green lima beans and has a butter sauce.
The other is made with large dried beige limas and is slow-simmered for hours. The second creates a creamy-like sauce without adding cream or milk.
It’s obvious I’m sharing the recipe for the latter. To be honest, it’s all I knew were butter beans until I did some research and discovered the other one.
I suppose it all depends on what you relate to the name.
Creaminess comes from the cooking process. Slow-simmering with only enough water to keep the beans covered creates a thick “sauce.”
If you add too much water it will be thin and not have the right consistency. It means checking them about every 20 minutes and adding a little water if needed.
That does take more effort however the end result is worth it.
It’s also important not to stir unless necessary. Stirring will break the beans apart and turn a lot of them into mush. The most I do is gently nudge them around with a wooden spoon once or twice.
The recipe came from my mother-in-law. I had a couple of discussions with her to get all the details.
She calls what is used to simmer with the beans “streak o’ lean.” It’s also called fatback or salt pork.
I stated salt pork in the ingredients since that is what it is typically labeled as in the grocery store. I buy it sliced however you can buy it whole and cut slices.
Have you cooked a family recipe lately? This was the first time I made butter beans because I always relied on getting them at my mother-in-law’s house.
It is important to learn directly from the ones who make the dishes so wonderfully. I encourage you to do the same with your family and have a lot of fun in the process.
Fun Facts About Butter Beans
- Is there another name for butter beans? Butter beans are one type of lima beans.
- What’s the difference between lima beans and butter beans? There’s no difference between lima beans and butter beans, because butter beans are a type of lima bean.
- What are butter beans good for? Butter beans can be used just like any other bean—for slow cooking, as a side dish, as hummus, or in a mixture with other beans.
- Can you buy canned butter beans? Yes, you can buy canned butter beans, but they shouldn’t be used in a slow-cooked recipe or they will fall apart.
- What’s the history of butter beans? Butter beans, or lima beans, originated in Peru as a food reserved for the elite.
What to Serve with Lima Beans
- Dad’s Cornbread
- Honey Cola Ham
Butter Beans Southern-Style
A recipe for Butter Beans cooked southern-style with salt pork. The beans are slow-simmered and create a creamy-like sauce without adding any cream or milk.
CourseMain Dish
CuisineAmerican Southern
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Ingredients
- 6ouncessalt pork6 thick slices
- 1poundlarge lima beans
- 1teaspoonsalt
- 1/2teaspoonfresh ground pepper
Instructions
Rinse and drain beans.
Put salt pork slices in the bottom of a large 7 to 8 quart pot. Pour the beans on top.
Cover the beans with about a half-inch of water.
Bring to a slow boil and reduce the heat to simmer. Do not let get to a full rolling boil.
Cover the pot loosely. Check every 20 to 25 minutes and add more water just to cover the beans.
After 1 to 1 1/2 hours, add 1 teaspoon of salt.
Continue to simmer, adding more water as needed, until beans are soft, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
Remove and discard salt pork slices.
Add pepper and gently stir. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Recipe Notes
Note: Stirring the beans during the cooking process can cause them to break apart. Stir gently and only as needed.
What Else Can You Make with Butter Beans?
- Butter Bean Edamame Hummus
FAQs
Shelled, fresh butter beans can be kept refrigerated for about a week. Wash them just being use. They can also be frozen and stored in zip-lock bags in the freezer for months.
Do you need to soak butter beans before cooking? ›
Canned or frozen butter beans don't require any soaking or initial preparation beyond a quick rinse or thaw, but dried beans require a few extra steps. Soak the beans overnight (optional): If you choose to soak your beans to save cooking time, thoroughly wash, drain, and pick over beans for any debris.
Can you eat butter beans the next day? ›
Your cooked beans last about 3 to 5 days in the fridge. To store them, let the beans cool down after cooking, then pop them in the refrigerator within an hour. Getting them stored quickly and chilled in the fridge will help prevent the growth of bacteria.
Why can't you boil butter beans? ›
After soaked beans have been rinsed, add fresh water about two inches to cover. Bring to a boil, and then turn the heat down to just a simmer. If you boil them too rapidly, they will split and fall apart.
Can you eat cooked beans after 7 days? ›
Typically, beans will last up to 5 days in the fridge. The best way to store them, to get them to last until the fifth day, is to make sure they are stored quickly after cooking so bacteria don't have the time to grow.
Can beans last 7 days in fridge? ›
Once those beans are opened, though, the clock starts ticking! Open beans can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days; while it may be tempting to store them right in the can, the USDA recommends transferring them to plastic or glass containers.
What happens if you don't soak beans first? ›
But, then I learned something astonishing: You can actually skip soaking beans over night, and actually you should. Not only does it shorten the amount of time until you have ready-to-eat beans, it also produces a more flavorful end result.
What happens if you don't have time to soak beans? ›
Place 1 lb.
Add cold water until it's about 2 inches above the top of the beans. It's important for beans to remain submerged in a few inches of water throughout the cooking process so they don't dry out. Cover pot, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and then remove from heat. Let rest 1 hour.
What's the difference between a butter bean and a lima bean? ›
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. As a matter of fact, our Large Lima Beans packaging actually states Butter Beans in parentheses, just to clarify.
Is 1 cup of beans a day too much? ›
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommends eating about 3 cups of legumes—like pinto, kidney, or black beans—per week. If you eat about ½ cup of beans every day, you'll meet the weekly Dietary Guidelines for beans.
Beans are a nutritious food packed with essential nutrients, but they can also cause gas and bloating due to their high fiber content. In addition, beans contain oligosaccharides, which are not easily digested in the small intestine and are fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, producing gas.
Can you overcook butter beans? ›
Overcooked beans will have an undesirable texture, but they may not be harmful if eaten. Furthermore, most people will spit them out rather than swallow them and ingest overcooked food. So, [overcooking] certainly can take away from the flavor and make beans taste bad. But, if you overcook your beans, don't worry!
Are butter beans bad for you? ›
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.
Should you drain canned butter beans? ›
Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener.
Why boil beans with baking soda? ›
These beans can often take much longer to soften while soaking and cooking, up to twice the time! Baking soda can help significantly since it increases the pH of the water, disintegrating that pectin and allowing beans to soften quicker.
Are beans still good after 2 weeks in fridge? ›
Yes, canned beans are safe to eat after refrigeration. Once opened, canned beans can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 3–5 days in a covered container.
How long are homemade beans good for in the fridge? ›
Cooked beans will keep up to a week in the fridge and even become more flavorful a day or two after cooking. So if you've got leftovers from a delicious one-pot dinner, either freeze for a future meal, or stick them in the fridge and pack a lunch for school or the office later in the week.
How many days are homemade beans good in the fridge? ›
Store cooked beans in a covered container that is not made from metal in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Also try storing cooked beans in smaller one to two cup portions, for ease of use in recipes.
How long will fresh lima beans last in the refrigerator? ›
Short-Term Storage
Fresh lima beans should be stored whole, in their pods, and in the refrigerator for two days.
