Description
Discover the best way to make creamy and comforting butter beans at home with this easy-to-follow recipe. Learn essential cooking instructions for a flavorful dish every time!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound dried butter beans
- 8 cups vegetable broth (or water)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Rinse the dried butter beans under cold water. Place them in a large bowl and cover with plenty of water. Let them soak for at least 6-8 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Drain and rinse the soaked butter beans. In a large pot, combine the beans with vegetable broth, chopped onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the beans are tender.
- While the beans are simmering, sauté the carrots and celery in olive oil until softened. Add them to the pot with the beans, along with the dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Continue to simmer for another 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- For an extra creamy texture, remove about 1 cup of the cooked beans and blend them until smooth. Return the blended beans to the pot and stir well (optional).
Notes
- Always soak the beans to reduce cooking time and improve texture.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
- Don’t overcook the beans; they should be tender but not mushy.
- Adjust the seasoning to your liking.
- For a richer flavor, consider adding a ham hock or bacon while simmering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus soaking time)
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Side Dish, Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250 Kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 15g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: butter beans, lima beans, homemade butter beans, butter beans recipe, how to cook butter beans, vegetarian recipe, vegan recipe, side dish, comfort food