Baby Lima Beans (Dried)

Baby Lima Beans (Dried): Nutrition and Guide

Baby lima beans are the small, thin-seeded variety of Phaseolus lunatus — distinct from the large butter beans familiar in British supermarkets, with a smaller, more oval shape and a slightly less floury, more delicate texture when cooked. They are popular in the American South (where they are a classic component of succotash — lima beans and corn cooked together, a dish with deep Native American roots) and in the Mid-Atlantic states. Their smaller size means they cook slightly faster than large lima beans, making them more practical for everyday use. The flavour is mild and buttery, similar to large lima beans, and they suit similar cooking applications.

Nutritional Value and Cooking

Dried baby lima beans provide 335 kcal and 20.6 g of protein per 100 g, with 60.5 g of carbohydrates and 20.6 g of fibre. Excellent for folate, manganese, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Cooked: approximately 115 kcal and 7.7 g protein per 100 g. Soak for at least four to eight hours, simmer forty to fifty minutes until tender. For succotash: combine cooked baby lima beans with corn kernels, butter, salt, and pepper — a simple, nutritious, and historically significant preparation. For a quick salad: toss cooked baby lima beans with good olive oil, lemon, mint, and feta.