Bacon reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
beans, lima
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Large, flat, pale legumes with a buttery, starchy sweetness and a slightly waxy texture. More assertive in flavor than most white beans, with a characteristic…
37 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Lima beans have a dense, starchy interior and a distinct flavor more pronounced than cannellini or navy beans — their earthy, slightly bitter edge is less diplomatic, which is why they divide opinion more sharply. Baby limas are more tender and milder; large Fordhook limas have a meatier, more assertive character. Succotash — the traditional Native American dish of lima beans and corn — is one of the great American pairings, where the corn's sweetness balances the beans' earthiness. Lima beans respond well to smoky, fatty accompaniments: ham hock, bacon, and pork belly all soften their assertiveness and add richness. In butter bean preparations (the term used in the American South for large limas), they are often cooked slowly with pork fat until nearly collapsing into a creamy, savory side dish.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
bacon
bay leaf
butter
chile peppers
cilantro
cream
cumin
curries
dill
fish
garlic
greens, bitter
ham and ham hocks
herbs
leeks
lemon, juice
mint
olive oil
onions
oregano
parsley, flat-leaf
pepper, ground
poultry
rosemary
sage
salt, kosher
savory
shallots
shellfish
sorrel
spinach
steak
succotash
thyme
tomatoes and tomato sauce
tuna
vinegar
bacon
Bacon reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
bay leaf
Bay leaf adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
butter
Butter adds richness and carries the aromatic side of creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
chile peppers
Chile peppers adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
cilantro
Cilantro gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
cream
Cream adds richness and carries the aromatic side of creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
cumin
Cumin adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
curries
Curries adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
dill
Dill gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
fish
Fish pairs with creamy bean earthiness by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
garlic
Garlic adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
greens, bitter
Greens, bitter adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
ham and ham hocks
Ham and ham hocks reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
herbs
Herbs gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
leeks
Leeks adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
lemon, juice
Lemon, juice brings acidity that cuts through creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
mint
Mint gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
olive oil
Olive oil adds richness and carries the aromatic side of creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
onions
Onions adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
oregano
Oregano gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
parsley, flat-leaf
Parsley, flat-leaf gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
pepper, ground
Pepper, ground adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
poultry
Poultry reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
rosemary
Rosemary gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
sage
Sage gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
salt, kosher
Salt, kosher complements beans, lima by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to creamy bean earthiness.
savory
Savory gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
shallots
Shallots adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
shellfish
Shellfish pairs with creamy bean earthiness by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
sorrel
Sorrel complements beans, lima by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to creamy bean earthiness.
spinach
Spinach adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
steak
Steak reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
succotash
Succotash complements beans, lima by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to creamy bean earthiness.
thyme
Thyme gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
tomatoes and tomato sauce
Tomatoes and tomato sauce adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
tuna
Tuna pairs with creamy bean earthiness by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
vinegar
Vinegar brings acidity that cuts through creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
Bay leaf adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
butter
Butter adds richness and carries the aromatic side of creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Chile peppers adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
Cilantro gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
cream
Cream adds richness and carries the aromatic side of creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Cumin adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
curries
Curries adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
Dill gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Fish pairs with creamy bean earthiness by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
Garlic adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
greens, bitter
Greens, bitter adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
ham and ham hocks
Ham and ham hocks reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
herbs
Herbs gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Leeks adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
lemon, juice
Lemon, juice brings acidity that cuts through creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
Mint gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Olive oil adds richness and carries the aromatic side of creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Onions adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
Oregano gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
parsley, flat-leaf
Parsley, flat-leaf gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
pepper, ground
Pepper, ground adds warmth and aromatic contrast to creamy bean earthiness, giving the pairing more dimension.
poultry
Poultry reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
Rosemary gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Sage gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Salt, kosher complements beans, lima by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to creamy bean earthiness.
Savory gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Shallots adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
Shellfish pairs with creamy bean earthiness by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
Sorrel complements beans, lima by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to creamy bean earthiness.
Spinach adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
steak
Steak reinforces the savory side of creamy bean earthiness, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
succotash
Succotash complements beans, lima by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to creamy bean earthiness.
Thyme gives creamy bean earthiness a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
tomatoes and tomato sauce
Tomatoes and tomato sauce adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives creamy bean earthiness more structure and balance.
Tuna pairs with creamy bean earthiness by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
vinegar
Vinegar brings acidity that cuts through creamy bean earthiness, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.