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 Lima Beans
© Denzil Green
Lima Beans are large, flat beans that grow on a perennial plant. Most Lima Beans are white, turning to a pale green when cooked. Other varieties vary in colour; one variety known as the "Christmas" variety is speckled. Heritage varieties tend to stay white when cooked.
Lima Beans are available generally in a large size (sometimes called "potato") and a small size called "Baby Lima Beans", which are about half the size.
Depending on where you are, Lima Beans can be obtained fresh, frozen or dried. When buying fresh, choose pods that appear to have plump beans inside.
Fordhook Lima Beans
These are very large, pale green Lima Beans, in the "potato" class because of their size. Some people who won't touch regular Lima Beans will eat these, because they are more flavourful. This is the variety that Lima Bean lovers crave.
Baby Lima Beans (aka Sieva)
These aren't immature Lima Beans, but rather a variety of pale green Lima Bean that only grows to about half the size of "potato" size Lima Beans.
Butter Beans
Dried Limas Beans are sometimes called "Butter Beans".
Cooking Tips
To prepare fresh ones, wash, pod them, and discard the pods. To pod, break the stem off, use the string to "unzip the bean", then pinch the pod at the seam to pop the beans out. Discard the pods.
Cook dried ones on the stove for about 2 hours, or pre-soak overnight and cook for one hour.
Whether cooking dried or fresh, cook uncovered (see nutrition).
Lima Beans purée and mash well.
Nutrition
Lima Beans contain cyanogen, related to cyanide. But in Western Countries commercial distribution is restricted to those with the lowest amounts, so that they are no danger to us. The small amount of toxin that is present is gotten rid of by cooking them in boiling water, as hydrogen cyanide is a gas and will escape the pot with the steam provided the pot is not covered.
Per 170g (1 cup) boiled: 215 calories, 14.5g protein, 40g carbohydrate, .7g fat, 13g fibre, 4.5mg iron, 955mg potassium.
Equivalents
1 pound fresh Lima Beans in pods = 450g = 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh, shelled beans
1/2 pound dried Lima Beans = 225g = 1 cup dried = 2 1/2 cups boiled
1 cup boiled, drained = 170g = 6 oz
1 15oz / 420g tin, drained = 1 1/2 cups / 9 oz / 250g cooked, drained Lima Beans
Storage
Store unwashed Lima Bean pods in unsealed plastic bag, or shelled beans in closed bag, in fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. Dried Lima Beans will keep in a sealed bag or jar for up to a year.
History
Originated in Central America, possibly in what is now Guatemala. Archaeologists have discovered 7,000 year old Lima Beans in tombs there. By the end of the 1500s, sailors were carrying the Lima Bean around the world.
Language Notes
Named for the city of Lima, Peru.
Also called:  Haricots Lima, Mondbohne (French) Lima-Bohnen (German) Alubias Lima (Spanish)
Other entries for Lima Beans
Lima Beans, Yellow Lima Beans
Other entries for Beans
Adzuki Beans, Anasazi Beans, Apache Beans, Appaloosa Beans, Aramis Beans, Aunt Emma's Beans, Baccicia Beans, Baked Beans, Bayo Beans (Louisiana), Black Beans, Black Nightfall Beans, Bleu du Lac St-Jean Beans, Broad Beans, Brown Rice Beans, Bush Beans, Canary Beans, Chana Dal, Chickashaw Beans, Chickpeas, Chinese Long Bean, Cow-Itch Beans, Cowpeas, Cranberry Beans, Crochu de Savoie Beans, Dainagon Beans, Dolico Veneto Beans, Dragon Tongue Beans, Dry Beans, European Soldier Beans, Falcon Rice Beans, Flageolet Beans, Flor de Junio Beans, Flor de Mayo Beans, Fortin Family Beans, Fradinho Beans, French Fillet Beans, Garboncito Beans, Garrofo Beans, Good Mother Stallard Beans, Great Northern Beans, Green Beans, Green Flageolet Beans, Green Rice Beans, Hopi Black Pinto Beans, Jackson Wonder Beans, Kahnawake Mohawk Beans, Kunde Beans, Lablab Beans, Lupini Beans, Madeira Beans, Magpie Beans, Mexican Bayo Beans, Moth Beans, Mung Beans, Navy Beans, Nodak Beans, Pebble Beans, Peruano Beans, Pigeon Peas, Pink Beans, Pinto Beans, Pole Beans, Rattlesnake Beans, Red Ball Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Red Nightfall Beans, Refugee Beans, Rice Beans (Asian), Rice Beans, Rio Zappe Beans, Romano Beans, Runner Beans, Sangre de Toros Beans, Sator Beans, Seluga Beans, Shelling Beans, Soybeans, Tarahumara Canario Beans, Tepary Beans, Tiger's Eye Beans, Tolosana Beans, Toscanelli Beans, Trout Beans, Tweed Wonder Beans, Vallarta Beans, Wax Beans, Wild Goose Beans, Winged Beans, Witkiem Beans, Zolfino Pratomagno Beans
Other entries for Legumes
Lentils, Peas
Related Recipes
Butterscotch Beans, Fried Eggs with Bean and Potato Pancakes, Lima Bean Pate, Lima Beans in Tomato Sauce
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