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

Spain on a Fork > All Recipes > Main Dishes > Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Beans (Lima Beans) | Easy & Delicious Recipe

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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Watch the Video Below on How to Make Creamy Spanish Butter Beans

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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

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 you soak lima beans before cooking? ›

Soaking beans in the refrigerator overnight will reduce the time they have to cook drastically. And the texture of the beans will also be it their best, with fewer split-open and burst ones. But like we said, you don't have to commit this hard.

Are butter beans good for cholesterol? ›

High levels of LDL cholesterol make it more likely you'll have heart problems or a stroke. But butter beans can help! One study found that when people ate 120g beans five times per week alongside their usual diet, they experienced a reduction in LDL cholesterol.

Is there a difference between lima beans and baby lima beans? ›

The younger green-hued beans are often called Green Baby Limas and are more tender than their larger counterparts. Despite that, all varieties come from the same plant.

Do butter beans spike blood sugar? ›

Even though pulses contain carbohydrates, they don't give sharp rises to blood glucose levels compared to other carbohydrate-containing foods. The make-up of the carbohydrates in pulses, the fibre content and the fact that they are high in protein slows down the breakdown of the carbohydrates into glucose in the blood.

Do butter beans lower blood pressure? ›

Eat Your Beans

Pulses, beans, lentils, and peas have been shown to significantly lower blood pressure in people with high and without high blood pressure. Beans are packed with fiber and protein, which have been shown to naturally help reduce blood pressure.

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!

Do you drain lima beans after cooking? ›

After soaking, drain the water and rinse with cool running water. To Cook Canned Lima Beans: Pour the beans in a saucepan and heat them on medium for about 10 minutes. When fully heated, do not drain the water, add seasoning to taste.

Do lima beans expire? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's FoodKeeper app says, “For freshness and quality, dried beans should be consumed within 1 to 2 years if in the pantry from the date of purchase; 1 year if pantry stored after opening.”

What beans are good for high blood pressure? ›

Nutritious and versatile, beans (including black, white, navy, lima, pinto, and kidney) are chock-full of soluble fiber, magnesium, and potassium, all excellent ingredients for lowering blood pressure and improving overall heart health.

What is the best bean to lower cholesterol? ›

Try beans and other high-protein, low-cholesterol foods.

Eating good sources of protein can keep you from overeating throughout the day. Some high-protein, low-cholesterol options include: Black beans, kidney beans, and soybeans. Chickpeas.

What nuts to eat to lower cholesterol? ›

Almonds and other nuts

Almonds and other tree nuts can improve blood cholesterol. Studies have shown that walnuts, which have omega-3 fats, may help protect the heart and lower the risk of heart attack for people who already have heart disease.

What do the British call lima beans? ›

Other than what they're called and sometimes their color, butter beans and lima beans are exactly the same. Their species is called Phaseolus lunatus and the difference in their name is only a matter of geography. In the American South and the United Kingdom, they're butter beans.

Why do my lima beans taste bitter? ›

Expert Response. You should not eat limas if they are bitter because they are probably high in cyanogenic glucosides. Normally this is only a problem in wild limas, but can occur in cultivated varieties even though lima bean breeders do have to measure cyanide content before they release a new variety.

What is the real name of a lima bean? ›

The lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) has a long and distinguished history that might surprise those of us who know it only as a humble ingredient of succotash. The most important member [of the wild bean species group] is P. lunatus, the moon-shaped or the lima bean.

Which beans are the healthiest to eat? ›

The 7 Healthiest Beans to Eat, According to Dietitians
  1. Lentils. Lentils are rich in polyphenols, plant-based compounds that have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. ...
  2. White Beans. ...
  3. Black Beans. ...
  4. Chickpeas. ...
  5. Pinto Beans. ...
  6. Red Kidney Beans. ...
  7. Lupini Beans.
Aug 14, 2023

What do lima beans do to your body? ›

Lima beans are nutritious food said to be rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Some potential health benefits of lima beans include stabilizing blood sugar levels, promoting heart health, supporting weight loss, and improving digestive health.

Are butter beans good for your stomach? ›

Excellent for Weight Loss - Thanks to the amazing protein and fibre content, butter beans may help you stay full for longer and also ease the digestion process thus aiding weight loss in the long run.

Are butter beans healthier than pasta? ›

Swap your PASTA for BUTTER BEANS with this delicious Butterbean Puttanesca. Why? Because it ups the protein and fibre in an extremely healthy way and help you each your daily targets more easily.

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