DeLallo Butter Beans, also known as lima beans, are a popular legume in Southern Italian cuisine. Their shape is large and flat with a pale beige color. Butter beans are creamy and smooth with a buttery, meaty bite. Mildly earthy, sweet and nutty, butter beans are a healthy, ready-to-use ingredient. Feature these tender, nutty beans in soups, stews, chili recipes and more. Butte beans stand up to sauces and take on the flavors they’re cooked with.
- Round, meaty legumes with a nutty flavor.
- Tender, creamy texture.
- Harvested at the peak of flavor.
- Versatile pantry staple.
- Ready to use cold or warmed.
- Healthy ingredient: high in fiber and protein.
- Kosher.
- Non GMO.
- Gluten free.
- Fat free.
- Vegan/vegetarian.
Kitchen and Usage Tips:
Butter beans are a versatile legume, a pantry staple that can be used in so many kitchen creations. Cut down cook time and skip the dried lima beans. Create a butter bean salad with a simple dressing of salt, olive oil and a kiss of lemon juice or use them to garnish leafy green salads and cold picnic pasta salads. Butter beans can be used to make hummus-like bean spreads and dips. Packed with protein and fiber, butter beans make an excellent substitute for meat. Feature them in soups, stews, casseroles and hot pasta dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are butter beans?
Butter beans are large, flat legumes with a pale beige color, a buttery texture and a classic earthy, nutty flavor. Filling and nutritious, these beans came from Lima, Peru—hence the butter bean’s other alias “lima bean.” Butter beans are seeds of the phaseolus lunatus plant. They are sold in both younger and more mature varieties in grocery stores, where they can be purchased as canned, dried and frozen beans.
Are butter beans the same as lima beans?
Generally speaking, butter beans and lima beans are the same. The names “butter bean” and “lima bean” are names given to the same legume but by different regions. In most areas of the U.S., these beans are known as lima beans—named for their origin of Lima, Peru.
What do butter beans taste like?
Butter beans are creamy, earthy and nutty in flavor.
Can I eat butter beans straight from the can?
Yes, canned butter beans can be used right from the can. We recommend draining and rinsing the beans before use.
What is the difference between butter beans and great northern beans?
Butter beans and Great Northern Beans are two different varieties of beans. Butter beans are larger and flat in shape with a creamy buttery texture. Great Northern Beans are white in color and firmer in texture with a small ovular shape. Both beans are a good source of protein and fiber, but butter beans are high in other vitamins and minerals in comparison. They can be used in recipes mostly interchangeably.
What is the difference between butter beans and kidney beans?
Butter beans and kidney beans are two different varieties of legumes. While both are beans, butter beans are larger, more creamy and beige in color. Kidney beans range in color from red to deep red. Kidney beans are much more firm in texture. Both beans are good sources of protein and fiber, but kidney beans are higher in protein, iron and folate. Both beans are healthy and offer essential nutrients.
What is the difference between butter beans and fava beans?
Butter beans, or lima beans, and fava beans are two different varieties of legume. They are different in every way. Fava beans are green, while butter beans are beige in color. Butter beans are more starchy and mild in flavor, while fava beans are richer in flavor.
What is the difference between butter beans and cannellini beans?
Butter beans and cannellini beans are two different beans with differing textures, flavors, shapes, etc. Butter beans are larger, oval-shaped and smooth. Cannellini beans are white beans that are small and kidney-shaped with a smooth texture. Butter beans are more mild in flavor and more smooth and creamy in texture.
What do I do with butter beans?
Butter beans are a versatile pantry staple. Use them to create hummus-like bean dips, cold bean salads, pasta salads and more. Top crisp garden salads and grain bowls. Butter beans are a great substitute for meat. Try them in soups, stews, hot pasta dishes and casseroles. Create a simple bean salad using butter beans, olive oil, salt and a touch of lemon juice.