Lima Beans
The inconspicuous skin of lima beans is deceptive; inside are delicate and delicious light green beans that are also very nutritious.
How Healthy Are Lima Beans?
Lima beans’ high protein content makes them very popular, and also contains important minerals such as calcium and iron. In addition, they contain B vitamins, provitamin A and a 100 gram serving contains almost our entire daily requirement of vitamin C. They’re also very low in fat and calories.
| Lima Bean Nutritional Info (100 g) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 70 |
| Protein | 11 g |
| Fat | 0.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fiber | 12 g |
Shopping and Cooking tips
Shopping
If you’re buying lima beans fresh, don't forget: since the beans themselves only make up about 40 percent of the total weight, you’ll need about 2 pounds for 2 portions. Look out for bean pods that are intact and crunchy.
You can also get lima beans canned or frozen or dried, also they won’t taste as good as the fresh beans.
Storage
Fresh lima beans can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Preparation
Preparing lima beans is easy, but takes a bit of time. Simply break open the pods, and use your fingers to pull the seeds out of their shells. Next, remove the skin on the beans by placing them in boiling water and blanching them for 1-2 minutes. Drain and rinse them in cold water, and the shells will be very easy to remove.
What To Make With Lima Beans
Once you’re prepared the lima beans, cooking them is incredibly easy. Toss them with butter and salt for a great snack, or marinate them for a couple days for a delicious accompaniment to salads. Lima beans also taste great with meat or poultry, or paired with steamed tomatoes and some lightly grated parmesan cheese.
