Shell Bean Succotash

Updated May 6, 2024

Shell Bean Succotash
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(41)
Comments
Read comments

Here is another great opportunity to make an end-of-summer dish, so long as corn and squash are still available in farmers’ markets. This is most authentic, and prettiest, if you use fresh lima beans, but I enjoy any kind of shell bean I can find.

Featured in: Liberated From Their Pods, Shell Beans Shine in the Kitchen

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves 6
  • 1pound shell beans (about 1¾ cups)
  • 1onion, halved
  • 7cups water
  • 3large garlic cloves, crushed
  • A bouquet garni made with a few sprigs each of parsley and thyme, a sprig of sage and a bay leaf
  • Salt to taste
  • 2tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1small red onion, finely chopped
  • ½pound summer squash, cut in small dice
  • 2garlic cloves, minced (optional)
  • Kernels from 4 ears of corn
  • 2 or 3sage leaves, minced
  • Freshly ground pepper
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

94 calories; 5 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 11 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 905 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the beans, onion, water, garlic, bouquet garni and salt in a heavy saucepan or soup pot, and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer 45 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Taste and adjust salt. Remove and discard the onion, the bouquet garni and the garlic cloves. Drain though a strainer or colander set over a bowl.

  2. Step 2

    Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat, and add the red onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, for about three minutes. Add the squash, and salt to taste. Cook, stirring, until the squash begins to soften and look translucent, three to four minutes. Add the garlic and corn. Cook for about four minutes, stirring often. Season with salt and pepper. Add the beans and sage, and continue to cook, stirring, for another minute or two. Taste and adjust seasonings. If you want this to be more moist, stir in some of the bean broth.

Tip
  • Advance preparation: This will keep for a few of hours atop the stove.Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.

Ratings

4 out of 5
41 user ratings
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Comments

I added a chervena chushka pepper and a poblano pepper (it was in our farm share), diced, between the onions and the squash in step 2, with good results. (A diced red or green bell pepper would also work.) I used yellow squash but with all the corn a green one would have been nice. Beans were quite soft, maybe don't need to cook so long. A splash of sherry vinegar added with the beans gave the dish a little more pizzazz. Tasty!

I added a chervena chushka pepper and a poblano pepper (it was in our farm share), diced, between the onions and the squash in step 2, with good results. (A diced red or green bell pepper would also work.) I used yellow squash but with all the corn a green one would have been nice. Beans were quite soft, maybe don't need to cook so long. A splash of sherry vinegar added with the beans gave the dish a little more pizzazz. Tasty!

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