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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
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.
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.
How long should I soak butter beans for? ›
Soak your butter beans overnight in cold water, before draining and rinsing them. Tip them into a large heavy pan, then add enough water to cover them and then some. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. You will need to simmer them until they are tender, which for most beans will take around an hour.
Why can't you boil butter beans? ›
Cook the 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. Stir them regularly and gently, add more water if necessary.
Can you eat cooked beans after 7 days? ›
When cooked, leftover vegetables stored in an airtight container will usually keep up to 3–7 days in the refrigerator. Cooked canned vegetables like beans or other legumes generally last 7–10 days with proper storage (2).
Are beans good after 4 days? ›
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. Beans have a low acid content and this makes them slightly more perishable than more acidic canned foods.
Are butter beans or cannellini beans better? ›
Nutritionally, both butter and cannellini beans are high in protein and fiber and have very similar nutritional profiles. The only noticeable difference is that butter beans contain a small amount of fat while cannellini beans have none.
What are butter beans called in the USA? ›
Lima Beans. While they're all the same bean botanically, butter beans have different names depending on the region. In the South and in the United Kingdom, they're typically referred to as butter beans. Elsewhere in the U.S., they're known as lima beans (named for Lima, Peru, the bean's point of origin).
Are butter beans healthy? ›
Nutritious Snack: Butter beans are loaded with protein, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, like manganese, copper, and vitamin C. Easy: These crispy butter beans are simple to make and last a week. So, you can always have a healthy snack ready whenever you need one.
What happens if you don't pre soak beans? ›
Modern cooking websites often say it doesn't matter. In a way, they're both right. Soaking beans can help improve the texture of the final product once the beans are cooked and reduce the gas produced when the food is being digested. But it isn't necessary to soak them.
It is possible to soak beans for too long before cooking. Beans should soak for 8 to 10 hours overnight. If they are soaked for longer than 12 hours, they can lose their familiar flavor and become overly mushy. For the best result, refrain from soaking them for too long.
Why are my butter beans still hard? ›
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.
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!
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. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.
What happens if you eat undercooked butter beans? ›
If you do eat undercooked beans, look for symptoms of food poisoning. You may have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You may also have cramps or abdominal pain. Generally, these symptoms appear within 3 hours of eating the beans.
Can you eat beans that have been in the fridge for a week? ›
Typically, beans will last up to 5 days in the fridge.
How long does it take for cooked beans to go bad 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.
Are cooked beans good after 2 weeks? ›
Cooked beans should be used within four days, or they may be frozen for up to six months for best quality. Freeze in portion containers what will not be used in 2-3 days. Frozen cooked beans can be used like a drained can of beans. Thawing is not necessary when they are used in soup or baked beans.
How long are lima beans good for in the refrigerator? ›
Short-Term Storage
Fresh lima beans should be stored whole, in their pods, and in the refrigerator for two days.
