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Southern Lima Beans in a bowl over white rice.
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Southern Lima Beans

These Southern lima beans simmer low and slow with smoked ham hocks, Cajun seasoning, and aromatics for rich, comforting flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 50 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Soul food, Southern
Keyword: beans, Comfort food, lima beans, soul food
Servings: 4 servings
Author: August DeWindt

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • ½ White Onion diced
  • ½ Green bell pepper diced
  • 1 stalk Celery diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
  • Pinch salt & pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
  • 3 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 2 smoked hamhocks
  • 1 ½ cups Dry lima beans soaked overnight and drained
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • Fresh Parsley chopped
  • Chives or scallions

Instructions

  • Heat a pot over medium high heat with the oil. Once hot, cook the onions, bell pepper, celery and garlic. Cook this for a few minutes until the veggies are a bit soft. Then add the seasonings, chicken broth and smoked meat. Bring to a boil and add the bay leaf and thyme.
    Bell peppers, onions and celery cooking in a dutch oven.
  • Cover and reduce heat to just before low. Let cook for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, add in the lima beans and stir. Cover and let cook for 1 ½ hrs.
    Ham hocks in a pot with broth.
  • After an hour and half remove the lid. Take out the smoked meat and pull the meat off of it, discarding the fatty skin. This should be easy as the meat will be extra tender.
  • Turn the heat up to medium high, stir the beans then smash some of the beans using a spoon, this will thicken the beans. If you don’t want it too thick, don’t smash too many beans. Stir in the meat. Cook uncovered for an additional 15 minutes. Stir every now and then so the bottom doesn’t stick to the pan.
    Southern lima beans in a pot with smoked ham pieces, and thick savory broth.
  • Remove the bay leaves. Top with some fresh chives or parsley, eat and enjoy! It can be eaten alone or over white rice with a side of greens and cornbread.
    Southern Lima Beans in a bowl over white rice.

Notes

This recipe makes 4 small servings or 2-3 generous servings. If served with rice and cornbread a smaller portion is best. 

Nutrition

Serving: 4g | Calories: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 998mg | Potassium: 1611mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 724IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 7mg