Southern Lima Bean Dip (with Shortcuts)
Flavorful baby lima beans (butterbeans) are blended and served with pita chips or corn chips as a Southern party dip. Perfect use of leftover Christmas lima beans for a New Years Eve party.
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 2tablespoons
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 16-oz package frozen baby lima beans (2 cups fresh or frozen) No need to thaw first
- 2 cups chicken broth or water (or Vegetable broth)
- 3 cloves garlic halved or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 slices uncooked bacon
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or bacon drippings
Instructions
- Combine lima beans, chicken broth (or water), garlic, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan or small Dutch oven.
- Stack the bacon and slice into ¼-inch wide pieces. Add about one-third of the pieces to the lima bean mixture.
- Cover; bring up to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer the lima beans 20 to 25 minutes or until very soft.
- Meanwhile, cook the remaining sliced pieces of bacon in a small skillet over medium to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp and browned; drain on a paper towel. Reserve the bacon drippings.
- Drain the lima beans, keeping the bacon and garlic with them. Pour into a food processor or a large blender.
- Process the lima bean mixture until smooth. Add enough olive oil to the reserved bacon drippings to make 2 tablespoons. (Or, just use 2 tablespoons olive oil.) Slowly pour the bacon drippings or oil through the food chute, while the processor is running
- Spoon into a serving bowl and sprinkle with cooked, crisp bacon. Best when served warm.
Notes
Use leftover cooked lima beans: If you have 2 cups seasoned leftover lima beans cooked in ham hock or bacon, can you simply blend them in a food processor and serve.
Instant Pot Method: Cook lima beans in just 1 ½ cups liquid along with uncooked bacon and seasonings. Cook frozen limas on High Pressure for 10 minutes. Quick Release pressure; drain.
Storage: This dip can be stored in the refrigerator up to 6 days and actually increases in flavor.
Shortcut: If using frozen, seasoned lima beans it adds extra flavor of onion and sometimes red or green bell pepper.
