The Lonely Lima Bean

Lima Beans: Maybe they aren’t so bad after all.

A fiber all-star, Lima beans, are rich in folate and magnesium. They can help replenish iron stores in the body and are a good source of the trace mineral manganese which assists in antioxidant defense. Sure they are good for me but the taste, bleh!

I have never been a fan of this legume. So, this week I challenged myself: Create a recipe where Lima beans taste good. And, well, I did!

Orecchiette with Lima Beans

Ingredients

• 1 lb. orecchiette pasta
• 2 cups frozen Lima beans (thawed)
• 2 slices bacon, chopped
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• salt & pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Get water boiling in a large pot for the pasta. Once water boils, add salt and the pasta. Cook until al dente.
2. Heat a large saute pan over medium/high heat.
3. Add the bacon pieces and crisp them up.
4. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, onions and garlic. Saute until the onion becomes translucent and garlic lightly browned. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
5. Toss in the red pepper flakes and add the Lima beans. Saute for about 5 minutes. You want the beans to retain some firmness.
6. Add the cooked pasta, pour in the remaining olive oil, and toss in the parsley.
7. Mix everything around to make sure all the ingredients are distributed evenly.
8. Serve it up topped with a little grated Parmesan cheese.

Alternatives

• Feel free to eliminate the bacon.
• Some fresh lemon zest would add a delightful fresh pop to this dish as well.

What veggie do you want to revisit?