Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (2024)

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Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (2)

All Recipes, Main Dishes / April 25, 2022

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These Creamy Spanish Butter Beans are what delicious & healthy food is all about. They´re packed with flavors, easy to make and promise to fill your body with so much goodness. Serve these beans as main course or even as a side dish, next to some Spanish cod.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (3)
The beauty of this dish is the texture of the butter beans (which are also known as lima beans). They have the most incredble creamy texture with a melt-in-your-mouth interior.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (4)
To make this recipe I used dried butter beans. But you can take the short-cut and use canned butter beans. However, for this recipe, I prefer to use the dried ones. As it takes this simple recipe to the next-level in goodness.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (5)

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: After soaking the beans overnight, it took me about 1 1/2 hours to perfectly boil the beans to a beautiful creamy texture. Make sure to check the package instructions on the butter beans you are using, as it may take more or less time to cook them through.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (6)

Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY NONSTICK FRY PAN
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL I USED
SPANISH SEA SALT

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4.6 from 5 votes

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Creamy Spanish Butter Beans | Alubias Garrafón Recipe

CourseMain Course

CuisineSpanish

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Resting Time 12 hours

Servings 2

Calories 481 kcal

Author Albert Bevia @ Spain on a Fork

Ingredients

  • 2tbspextra virgin olive oil30 grams
  • 1cupdried butter beans180 grams
  • 1onion
  • 4clovesgarlic
  • 1carrot
  • 1green bell pepper
  • 1/2tspdried thyme.50 grams
  • 1bay leaf
  • handfulfinely chopped parsley
  • pinchsea salt
  • dashblack pepper

Instructions

  1. Add 1 cup butter beans into a sieve, rinse under cold water, making sure to remove any debris or broken beans, add the beans into a lage bowl and fill with 4 cups (1 liter) cold water, let them sit overnight or between 8 to 12 hours

  2. Drain the beans back into the sieve, rinse under cold water and set aside

  3. Finely chop 1 onion, 1 carrot (peeled), 1 green bell pepper and roughly chop 4 cloves garlic

  4. Heat a stock pot with a medium heat and add in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

  5. After 2 minutes add in the chopped vegetables, mix with the olive oil, after 3 minutes and the onion is translucent, add in the butter beans and a generous 1/2 tsp dried thyme, mix together, then add in 5 cups (1200 ml) cold water and 1 bay leaf, turn up the heat to a high heat and bring to a boil, then place a lid on the pan and lower to a low-medium heat

  6. Once the beans are fully cooked through and have a creamy interior, about 1 1/2 hours (check package instructions on your beans), season with sea salt & black pepper, gently mix together, then remove from the heat

  7. Transfer into shallow bowls and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh parsley, enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Get the Extra Virgin Olive Oil I used to make this Recipe

Nutrition Facts

Creamy Spanish Butter Beans | Alubias Garrafón Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 481Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 10g

Sodium 42mg2%

Potassium 1843mg53%

Carbohydrates 69g23%

Fiber 20g83%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 21g42%

Vitamin A 5330IU107%

Vitamin C 56mg68%

Calcium 117mg12%

Iron 8mg44%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclosure: At Spain on a Fork, we offer affiliate links to help you find what you need to re-create our recipes. If you like what we do, you can support us through our chosen links, which earn us a commission, but you still pay the same price. Learn more here.

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Tags: beans, butter beans, carrots, creamy, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, gluten free, green bell peppers, lima beans, onions, recipe, thyme, vegan

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23 Comments

  1. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (14)

    Crimson Chan

    Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (15)
    I made this while added another 2 tomatoes (reduced the amount of water added). Some said it’s quite bland so I added a bit of chicken bouillon as well. Tastes great and healthy as always!

    06 . Jan . 2024

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (16)

      Spain on a Fork

      Sounds great! Much love 🙂

      07 . Jan . 2024

  2. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (17)

    June

    Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (18)
    We found this bland and lacking. I used canned beans. While making this I was thinking it will be flavorful because of the good ingredients. Thinking of adding better than bullion ham base when I reheat.

    02 . Nov . 2023

  3. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (19)

    Denise Pool

    Hi!
    Sounds amazing and I’m trying it tomorrow. Any chance you can tell me how long to cook them in an Instant Pot? Soaked.

    06 . Sep . 2023

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (20)

      Spain on a Fork

      I have never used an instant pot, but I assume you would cook them on high pressure for about 1 hour 🙂 much love

      06 . Sep . 2023

  4. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (21)

    Kim

    Love this recipe as implemented e and easy my son is a picky eater and he’ll enjoy this Thank you.

    18 . Jul . 2023

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (22)

      Spain on a Fork

      Sounds great! Much love 🙂

      19 . Jul . 2023

  5. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (23)

    Charlaine Welch

    Great dish I am diabetic and can have this dish for dinner with out any spike in blood sugar

    01 . Jul . 2023

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (24)

      Spain on a Fork

      Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love

      01 . Jul . 2023

  6. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (25)

    Donna

    Instead of the overnight soak, can I let them soak in boiling water for about an hour or so, then continue with the recipe? Thanks

    12 . Mar . 2023

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (26)

      Spain on a Fork

      Your can bring the water to a boil with the beans, then turn off the heat and cover, let it the sit for 1 hour and you should be ok 🙂 Much love

      13 . Mar . 2023

  7. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (27)

    Carolyn

    Hi! If using canned butter beans, how many cans? Thx!

    16 . Feb . 2023

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (28)

      Spain on a Fork

      Two 15.5 oz (440 grams) cans 🙂 Much love!

      17 . Feb . 2023

  8. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (29)

    Don

    Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (30)
    Thank you so much for this recipe!! This is the best recipe for dried butter beans I have found. In the US we make them with chunks of ham but I have to confess that this recipe of yours was better.

    18 . Jan . 2023

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (31)

      Spain on a Fork

      So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love

      19 . Jan . 2023

  9. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (32)

    Andrea

    Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (33)
    I made this recipe last night, and WOW! Love it! I used vegetable stock instead of water and found that I did not need to add salt. So delicious AND healthy! I will definitely make this recipe again. Thank you very much.

    09 . May . 2022

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (34)

      Spain on a Fork

      So happy to hear that!! Much love 🙂

      09 . May . 2022

  10. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (35)

    tanya perrin

    Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (36)
    Albert I just have to compliment you on your absolutely beautiful photos!!! They are so inspiring and I only wish I could reach through the screen and taste the foods you create! Well done friend!

    07 . May . 2022

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (37)

      Spain on a Fork

      Appreciate the comment Tanya 🙂 Much love!

      08 . May . 2022

  11. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (38)

    Amar Hussein

    Love your recipes! Just a word on timings and the broth, if I used canned butter beans does the liquid (broth) ratio change and how long would one need to cook the canned butter beans for?

    Thanks Albert, you really are a ray of sunshine with your tasty and healthy recipes.

    26 . Apr . 2022

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (39)

      Spain on a Fork

      I would just add in 1 cup of water and simmer for 10 minutes if using canned butter beans, appreciate the comment Amar 🙂 much love

      26 . Apr . 2022

  12. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (40)

    Ramya

    cant wait to make this soon for me i never had creamy spanish butter beans before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work

    25 . Apr . 2022

    • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (41)

      Spain on a Fork

      Sounds great Ramya! Thanks for the comment 🙂 much love

      25 . Apr . 2022

Leave A Comment

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

Do large lima beans need to be soaked before cooking? ›

Lima beans are almost always cooked. If you buy dried beans, you will need to soak them first. Before soaking beans, spread them on a flat surface and remove all debris, small stones, or damaged beans. Then, rinse the beans in a strainer under cool running water.

How do you take the bitterness out of butter beans? ›

Here are some ways to remove bitterness from lima beans: Quick soak: Cover the beans with water, bring to a boil, and then turn off the heat. After an hour, drain the beans. Soak in cold water: Soak the beans in cold water for 8 hours, drain, and then soak again.

Can you eat the water in canned butter beans? ›

Yes, you can rinse canned butter beans before cooking them. Rinsing helps to remove any excess sodium or starchy liquid from the can. However, this step is optional, and some people prefer to use the liquid in the can as it adds flavor to the dish.

Which is healthier lima beans or butter beans? ›

There is no difference between lima beans and butter beans, though you can find them for sale at different stages of maturity. The younger green-hued beans, usually identified as baby lima beans, have a starchy texture similar to raw fava beans (which some describe as mealy). You can consume them fresh or cooked.

Why do my lima beans taste bitter? ›

What's interesting to me about this is that along with chickpeas, limas are some of the least beany tasting of beans, with a flavor that fans describe as nutty and sweet. But overcook them, and they can turn bitter and sulfurous, not unlike other oft-maligned foods, such as Brussels sprouts and broccoli.

What is the first thing one should do when cooking the lima beans? ›

Cooking dried lima beans is simple. For a fast cooking time, just soak them in water overnight, drain and cover with fresh water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for an hour and then use the beans however you'd like! You can also cook these tasty beans in the Slow Cooker or Multi-Cooker.

What happens if you don't soak lima beans before cooking? ›

If you're the impatient, bean-hungry type, you can cook your beans from dry without any soaking at all. Here's the thing: Beans that have not been soaked ahead of time will always take longer to cook, but they will, indeed, cook.

Should I drain canned lima beans? ›

But if you're someone who needs to watch your sodium intake, it certainly can't hurt to drain and rinse canned beans before using them. Doing so can reduce the sodium by 40%. If you don't want to rinse, consider at least draining them first. Draining alone will “reduce the sodium by a third,” says Reinagel.

What neutralizes bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

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.

Why won t my butter beans cook? ›

If you've ever cooked beans for hours without them softening, it's probably because you're using old beans, or you've got hard (mineral-rich) water, or there's an acidic ingredient in the pot, which can slow down cooking. Using distilled water solves the hard water problem.

What happens if you don't rinse canned beans? ›

"If you rinse your beans thoroughly, you will have a consistently flavored product, but if you do not rinse them, different amounts of salt will remain in the dish each time you cook it, and it will be hard to cook consistently," he says.

Can you eat butter beans straight from the can? ›

From the tin – not a cooking method, but butter beans and be enjoyed straight from the can. Try scattering them in a salad or alongside a sharp, salty cheese with a drizzle of olive oil and herbs.

Can dogs eat butter beans? ›

Yes. Lima beans—also called butter beans—are a great source of fat-free, plant-based protein to enhance your dog's diet. They're also rich in fiber, which helps keep blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after eating. This is especially beneficial for dogs with diabetes.

How do lima beans become butter beans? ›

Besides a sometimes-differing color palette, butter beans and lima beans are exactly the same. Yes, they're the exact same thing. It's kind of a tomato/tomahto situation (except with beans) that's related more to geography than anything else.

Why are butter beans called lima beans? ›

The most important member [of the wild bean species group] is P. lunatus, the moon-shaped or the lima bean. Its name does come from the Peruvian capital of Lima, even though perversely it is pronounced 'lime-uh' in English.

What are butter beans called in 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).

What is another name for a butter bean? ›

A lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), also commonly known as butter bean, sieva bean, double bean or Madagascar bean, is a legume grown for its edible seeds or beans.

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