How Long Does It Take To Cook Fresh Butter Beans

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This Butter Bean recipe is an old family favorite made just the way Granny made them. Butter beans are easy to cook with bacon, butter, and the secret—a touch of sugar! Try this butter bean recipe today and you'll have an easy side dish that goes with almost anything.

You won't find a meat-and-three in the South that doesn't have butter beans on the menu because this vegetable is a favorite around here, especially in rural areas.

If someone's serving a big platter of fried chicken, then most likely mashed potatoes, creamed corn, butter beans, and biscuits will be on the table too!

What are butter beans?

We get asked that question a lot in the South: What are butter beans? Butter beans are one of those distinctly Southern vegetables that seems to have different names and different varieties everywhere you go.

Are they butter beans or lima beans? The ones I grew up eating grow up poles and are small and green and were called butter beans. But they are so similar to the small lima beans that they are pretty much interchangeable. And butter beans can be cooked fresh or frozen.

Then there are dried butter beans, which are larger and lighter in color, almost tan. Those never appealed to me, but my family eats them year round.

Butter beans recipe

Like most Southern recipes, there are as many ways to cook butter beans as there are streets named Peachtree in Atlanta. However, a common denominator for most beans and greens is the addition of pork for flavor.

When I was growing up, the Southern butter beans recipe usually included fatback but nowadays people tend to use bacon.

Because it's healthier, right?

I buy frozen butter beans during the fall and winter months, but use fresh when they are in season during the summer.

I learned how to cook butter beans from my grandmother, and her butter bean recipe is pretty simple: put water in a pot, add bacon, season with salt and pepper, add a little garlic powder, bring to a boil and add the beans. Throw in some butter toward the end.

Secret Ingredient

Sugar is the magic ingredient! Granny would add a little sugar to the water, not enough to make the butter beans too sweet, but enough to taste and add just a little more flavor to what could otherwise be a pretty bland bean.

How to cook butter beans

1. Start by adding water, salt, pepper, bacon, butter, sugar, and garlic powder to a large saucepan. I use Kirkland brand cookware from Costco, but this pot by Cuisinart would work well, as would this one from Calphalon.
2. Bring the water and seasonings to a boil and cook for a minute or two until the seasonings have dissolved.
3. Then add the butter beans and return to a boil, then turn down to simmer.
4. I like butter beans to be very tender, so I cook them for about an hour.

**Cook's Tip: Taste the butter beans while they are cooking so you can add additional seasonings if necessary.

Serving suggestions

This butter bean recipe is delicious with chicken, pot roast, meatloaf or even as a portion of a vegetable plate with sliced tomatoes and fried okra.

More tips

1. Use fresh butter beans if they are in season. If not, frozen will work just fine.
2. If your grocery store doesn't carry actual butter beans you can substitute baby lima beans.
3. Season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and don't forget to add a little sugar. Taste frequently.
4. Cook the butter beans until they are very tender.

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Ingredients

• 1 lb. butterbeans
• 2 slices thick cut bacon
• 2-4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ½ tablespoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Place butterbeans in a large saucepan. Fill pan with enough water to cover the butterbeans by about an inch.
2. Add bacon, sugar, garlic powder, butter, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Turn down to a simmer and cook 45 minutes or until very tender.
3. Taste and add additional salt and/or sugar if needed. Serve warm.

Notes

Tips for Making the Best Butter Beans

1. Use fresh butter beans if they are in season. If not, frozen will work just fine.
2. If your grocery store doesn't carry actual butter beans you can substitute baby lima beans.
3. Season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and don't forget to add a little sugar. Taste frequently.
4. Cook the butter beans until they are very tender.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 6 servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 228 Saturated Fat: 5g Cholesterol: 22mg Sodium: 481mg Carbohydrates: 27g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 9g Protein: 6g

Update Notes: This Butter Beans recipe was originally published May 4, 2011, and on May 19, 2020, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.

This post is part of my favorite Southern Foods at Home collection.

How Long Does It Take To Cook Fresh Butter Beans

Source: https://southernfoodandfun.com/how-to-cook-butterbeans/

Posted by: penalaving.blogspot.com

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