Are Lima Beans Good for You?
Sometimes it’s a process to learn to love vegetables, but what makes them a little easier to love is how good they are for you! Lima beans are a very healthy vegetable and are packed with lots of fiber and protein. Put yummy lima beans on your dinner table this week! There are many benefits to eating lima beans!
Learning to Love Lima Beans with this Easy Lima Bean Recipe – Cook Lima Beans so you love them …
Love me Tender …
Love me Green …
Never let me be smushy …
Most people don’t like lima beans because they’re smushy. Not really mushy because lima beans are pretty firm, but smushy… a lot more appealing than mushy, but for “food texture challenged people” (you know who you are) this can be a huge problem.
In order to win over the masses, the lima bean needs to be the right type of lima bean and then cooked correctly. Once you’ve accomplished this, you will find yourself eating these lima beans right out of the bowl with a big spoon.
This picture below is a pretty good replica of the lima beans we had for dinner every Sunday at my Grandma’s house. She had a shiny pale pink bowl that reminded me of a seashell. She always filled it with either lima beans or sweet green peas.
These little green odd shaped beans are nutritionally packed. They contain protein, fiber, iron, manganese, and potassium. They are low in fat and deserve a place on your family dining room table.
Made correctly you will fall in love …
How to Make Easy & Tasty Lima Beans
Ingredients needed for simple lima bean recipe
- 1 – 16 oz. bag of baby lima beans
- 1 cup of chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 1 clove of garlic, chopped fine
- 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
- salt & pepper
Simer those beans in tasty chicken broth. Drain beans well and put back into the pan. Stir in the olive oil and lightly salt & pepper. While the beans are cooking, sauté the onion and garlic in butter in a medium-sized skillet. Add the cooked and drained lima beans to the skillet with the onions and garlic, stir to combine.
Fall in love with the tasty little lima bean using this recipe.
- 1 16 oz. bag of baby lima beans (leave out to thaw a little)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 1 clove garlic, chopped fine
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- salt & pepper
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Simmer baby lima beans in chicken broth until tender. If you thaw the lima beans first this should take about 5 minutes.
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Drain well and place lima beans back into the pan. Stir in the olive oil and lightly salt & pepper.
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While the beans are cooking, sauté the onion and garlic in butter in a medium-sized skillet.
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Add the cooked and drained lima beans to the skillet with the onions and garlic, stir to combine.
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Enjoy!
Baby Lima Beans or Fordhook Lima Beans?
Baby lima beans are just that. A baby version of the larger Fordhook lima bean. Sometimes they are referred to as Green Baby Limas. Which version is better is a personal preference. We love using both and will often swap them out in recipes. Some people prefer the smaller lima bean in recipes that are using cheese or cream.
Baby Lima Bean Calories: 229 calories per cup
Fordhook Lima Bean Calories: 217 calories per cup
Are Lima Beans Fattening?
Lima beans, like many other legumes, are a nutritious and healthy food choice. They are a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. While they do contain some amount of carbohydrates, including natural sugars, lima beans are not considered fattening when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
Many times what gives a vegetable a bad rap on being fattening is the amount of additional ingredients we add to our vegetable recipes like butter and cheese. When you steam or boil vegetable and use a little olive oil and lemon, you add very little fat to the recipe.
Lima Bean Nutrition Facts:
USDA:
1 cup of lima beans (182 g)
Calories in lima beans: 229
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.7 g 1%
Saturated fat 0.2 g 1%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 5 mg 0%
Potassium 730 mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 42 g 14%
Dietary fiber 14 g 56%
Protein 15 g 30%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 5%
Iron 24%
Vitamin D 0%
Vitamin B6 5%
Magnesium 24%
Are lima beans a vegetable or legume?
Limas beans are actually a legume. which are seeds or pods of the lima bean plant.
Learning to Love Lima Beans
Once you have learned to love the lima bean – try this delicious Fordhook Lima Bean Recipe for any holiday or just a delicious side dish for dinner.
If you LOVE lima beans like we do – you will love these Christmas & Thanksgiving Lima Beans
Perfect Lima Bean Recipe for your Holiday Table. Everyone will love lima beans after eating this dish. Trust us.
You will also enjoy another great recipe – Creamed Lima Beans
Grab a bag of those yummy frozen lima beans and make yourself a delicious and nutritious side dish for dinner!
If you don’t want any fuss, simply cook the lima beans in a little chicken broth, butter, salt & pepper. Give them a try!
So, are lima beans good for you? YES! Lima beans are a nutritional legume that should be included in your weekly diet.
