southern plate
What You Need to Make Southern Butter Beans Recipe
– Dried lima beans – Onion – Ham hocks – Garlic cloves – Olive oil
Soak the dried beans overnight if you want, but you don’t have to. Wash the dried butter beans and then put them in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes, then turn off the heat. Cover and let it sit for 1 hour.
After the beans have sat, drain the water and put the beans to the side. Add the oil to the pot and sauté the ham hocks and onions together, until the onion is clear and tender. Add garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes more.
Add the beans and cover with water. Add pepper and salt–only about 1 teaspoon of salt at first. Bring to a boil; stir, reduce heat, and cover and simmer the butter beans and ham for about 2 hours.
Keep checking the water level and stirring every once in a while. Add more water if needed. You want to have just enough water to keep about 1 inch above the ham and butter beans as they cook.