Minty Green Lima Bean Puree Food

LIMA BEAN PUREE

Steps:

• Combine the lima beans and garlic, with broth or water to cover and simmer, covered, over low heat, for 15 minutes or until really tender (add more liquid if it is evaporating too quickly).
• Puree lima beans in a food processor with grated orange rind and butter. For a finer puree, pass the lima beans through a sieve or food mill to remove skins; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Can be made in advance and reheated in microwave oven or double boiler.

HUEVOS RANCHEROS WITH BLACK BEAN PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the Salsa: In a small bowl mix together, tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, garlic, juice, olive oil, hot sauce, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• For the Black Bean Puree: In a food processer, blend all ingredients together until smooth.
• To assemble: Stack tortillas on a cutting board. Using the bottom of the ramekin as a guide, cut 8 circles out of the tortillas. Spread the bean puree evenly on 1 side of each tortilla round. Place a round in each ramekin, bean side up. Crack 2 eggs into each of the 4 ramekins, followed by 1/4 cup of salsa, and 1 tablespoon each of Cheddar and jack. Cover with another tortilla round, bean side down. Do not jam the dishes with too much. The eggs will expand during cooking and overflow. Brush tops of each tortilla with butter and bake on a sheet tray for 35 minutes. Top with remaining cheese during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Cheese should be melted and golden on top. To serve, top with sour cream and salsa.

LIMA BEAN PURéE

Steps:

• Simmer lima beans in water with 1teaspoon salt in a 5-quart pot, covered, until just tender, about 15 minutes.
• Purée beans with cooking liquid in batches in a food processor until smooth, then force purée through a medium-mesh sieve or a food mill fitted with fine disk into a large bowl.
• Heat half-and-half and butter in a small saucepan over moderate heat until butter is melted, then stir into bean purée along with cayenne, black pepper, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. If purée is too thick, thin to desired consistency with additional half-and-half.

LIMA BEAN PUREE OR GREEN MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a small sauce pan heat the lima beans, chicken broth, rosemary, salt and pepper to boiling. Reduce heat and let simmer for a few minutes until limas are heated through, approx 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain the lima beans reserving approximately 1/2 cup of liquid.
• Place hot lima beans back into the sauce pan. Add butter and chicken broth in 1 Tablespoon increments as needed. Either with a masher or with an emersion blender (I use the emersion blender) puree the lima bean/butter/broth mixture until silky smooth and they resemble "green mashed potatoes". If they seem too dry, add some more of the reserved chicken broth until the consistency is to your liking.
• These are a healthy alternative in our house and everyone loves them. Even the veggie haters always leave raving about these lima's!

LIMA BEAN PURéE

Steps:

• Combine 6 cups water, lima beans, garlic, and rosemary sprig in large saucepan. Boil until beans are very soft, about 20 minutes. Drain, reserving cooking liquid. Discard rosemary sprig. Transfer bean mixture to processor. Add butter and puree until smooth, adding some of reserved cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls as needed to moisten. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring occasionally and adding more reserved cooking liquid as needed to moisten.)