Alubia Blanca from North America
A small white bean with vast...
From £7.45 GBP
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Big, bold Lima beans - butter beans as they’re known in the UK - with an unusually tender texture. The Heirloom Bean Co sources these and a range of other Phaseolus beans from North American bean specialist Rancho Gordo, founded in the early 2000s by Steve Sando to preserve and promote traditional and rare bean varieties of the Americas. |
Lima beans have a bit of a dodgy reputation in the US, courtesy of a generation exposed to frozen bags of them and the resultant bland mush that wound up on their plates. Mind you, the horribly overcooked ‘commodity’ tinned butter beans we are more accustomed to in the UK aren’t much better, often bunged into a recipe as little more than a bulking agent. Rest assured: these high-end, new-crop Large White Limas couldn’t be more different, with a moist and moreish plumpness that adds class and character to the full spectrum of bean dishes.
Images & cooking instructions © Rancho Gordo Inc.
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Kitchen Suggestions
Large White Lima beans are a versatile kitchen staple, especially in American Southern and Caribbean cuisines. Their robust size and creamy texture make them a perfect foundation for hearty, slow-simmered dishes with smoked meats, and they’re also a classic addition to succotash, providing a rich counterpoint to the sweetness of the corn. Their mild flavour allows Large White Limas to soak up and complement most spices and aromatics, making them ideal for both savoury stews and simple, comforting sides. Also great for soups, salads, dips and as the heart of a vegan medley topped with fresh thyme and olive oil.
Cooking these beans - the Rancho Gordo method
Check beans for debris, and rinse thoroughly. In a large pot, sauté aromatic vegetables (onions, garlic, celery, carrot etc.) in olive oil. Add beans and enough water to cover by about 2 inches/5cm. Bring to a full boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, using a lid to help regulate the heat, and gently cook until done, 1 to 3 hours. Salt when beans start to soften. A pre-soak of 2 to 6 hours will lessen the cooking time.
Recipe ideas
Rancho Gordo’s Golden Pan-Fried Large White Limas with Wilted Greens
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Ingredients
Large White Lima Beans
Similar to: Cassoulet, Royal Corona, Butter Beans
Latin name: Phaseolus lunatus
Country of origin: USA
Sold in resealable 1lb (453g) bags
