Southern Lima Butter Beans With Ham Bits Food

SOUTHERN LIMA BEANS WITH HAM

Steps:

• Rinse and sort the beans. Set aside.
• In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
• Add the rinsed beans, ham hock, bay leaf, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat slightly just so that it's at a low boil, and cook for 20 minutes. Reduce heat again just so that the liquid is simmering. Cover and cook for about 1 ½ hours, or until beans are tender. Check the beans after 1 hour, because they may be soft enough at that point if you like your beans a bit more firm. If you prefer the beans really soft and broken down, you may prefer to extend the cooking time to 2 hours. While the beans are cooking, check to occasionally make sure that the beans are covered with water (adding more water, if necessary). Discard bay leaf, remove ham hock from the pot, and shred or chop the meat. Return chopped meat to the pot with the beans. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish individual servings with hot sauce and herbs; serve with cornbread.

SLOW COOKER SOUTHERN LIMA BEANS AND HAM

Steps:

• Soak lima beans in 2 quarts of water in a large bowl for 8 hours or overnight. The next day, drain the lima beans and place into a slow cooker with onions, ham bone, and ham. Pour in 3 cups of water or as needed to cover. Place lid on the cooker, set to High, and cook for 3 hours.
• Stir in Cajun seasoning, black pepper, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper; set cooker to Low and cook until the beans and meat are very tender, about 4 more hours.

SOUTHERN LIMA BUTTER BEANS WITH HAM BITS

Steps:

• Bring water to boil and add beans, ham bits, bacon drippings, salt and black pepper.
• Cook on a low simmer heat for 1 1/2 hours. Some water will evaporate, but let at least 2 cups remain. Check frequently to not let water completely boil out.

SOUTHERN LIMA BEANS WITH RICE

Steps:

• I know the bag says to soak the beans overnight, but you really don't have to.
• Wash the 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 sit the beans to the side.
• Add the oil to the pot and sauté the ham hocks and onions together, until onion is clear and tender, add garlic and sauté 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 for about 2 hours.
• Keep checking the water level and stirring every once in a while. Add more water if needed, but not too much.
• Just enough to keep about 1 inch of water above the beans as they cook.
• Cook until beans are tender, adding more salt if needed. The water will turn into a wonderful gravy. Serve over rice.