butter bean noun A small lima bean.
1949 Kurath Word Geog East US 73 Butter beans is a common expression for lima beans in all of the Southern area. Many people in this section differentiate between the large lima beans and the smaller butter beans. 1962 Wilson Folkways Mammoth Cave 14 The butter bean, a small, flat bean grown all over the South and called by many names, can be taken as a sort of test word for the region; to call it a Lima bean would still subject you to questioning as to where you live at, for Lima beans are fetch-on, either dried, as in former times, or frozen, as now.
—Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English
Pap and Granny loved butter beans but they never grew them that I can remember. I’m not sure why, I need to ask Granny if they ever tried to.
I’ve heard all lima beans called butter beans, not just the small ones like the dictionary indicates.
The Deer Hunter and I never grew peas or butter beans until the last few years. We’ve become plumb foolish about them, but are still learning the best way to grow them.
Thanks to the generosity of Debbie at Bryson Farm Supply and other kind folks, we are trying several varieties of butter beans this year.
The pretty pink ones in the photo are from some shared with us with the name of Bill Mathis. We both said they’re about too pretty to eat, but quickly decided pretty or not we can’t wait to taste them.
Last night’s video: Watermelon Hill 16.
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Tipper I grew up here in Kentucky eating butter beans a lot. I love the big ones, but I particularly love the speckled butter beans. A pot of them with cornbread, and fried potatoes just plain old good. We eat them similar to the way we eat soup beans.
I love butter beans, especially fresh ones, and I shelled many a butterbean when I was a child. I didn’t particulary like shelling the ones with almost flat pods, but you didn’t waste anything.
“Just a bowl of butter beans, pass the cornbread if you please, I don’t want no collard greens, I just want a bowl of butter beans”
I LOVE BUTTER BEANS. I PREFER THE SMALL VERSION. MY SISTERS AND I HAD BUTTER BEANS FOR SUPPER LAST NIGHT. YUMMY. I HAVE ONE BOBBY FLAY COOKBOOK, IN IT HE SAYS, IF LIMA BEANS WERE CALLED BUTTER BEANS UP NORTH, NEW YORKERS WOULD EAT THEM. I’M CERTAINLY HAPPY WE HAVE THEM DOWN HERE IN THE SOUTH. I ALSO LIKE BUTTER PEAS. THEY’RE NOT THE SAME SHAPE NOR COLOR AS BUTTER BEANS. BUT THEY ARE KINDA’ CREAMY WHEN COOKED.
LOVE Y’ALL
I love butter beans! I used to help my Grandma shell them, Mama called them shellie beans. Cooked with bacon, there is nothing better. Some food chains also carry them canned. If I find them, I am so excited! I buy, open can soon at home, rinse because they tend to be really salty in the can, and eat them cold. Of course, they’re better eaten hot with corncakes, a little bit of chow chow, chopped onion, fried squash and okra, with coleslaw on the side! I have been known to put a little bit of ketchup on my butter beans, plus, a side of bread and butter pickles. I will be so excited to get to South Carolina on a road trip soon. We should be able to also pick up some apples in North Carolina.
Howdo. You really need to like butter beans if ya grow’m. It takes a long time to shell’m out but they sure are worth it. Specially when it’s snowing outside. Pone of cornbread, fried fatback, chopped onions. Big oh cold glass of milk. Goodness gracious, what a feast!
Prayers and blessings to Granny. Ya’ll too. Loved last read of “Watermelon Hill”. Can’t wait till next Friday! Sandra in Hillsville.
My wife and I are both “flatlanders” (northeast Mississippi) and grew up eating the large butter beans so often, we are finished with them for this life. But the smaller ones aka baby limas are another story. These are one of our favorites. We cook with bacon. Sautéed onions and garlic, with chicken broth for the liquid.
Beans of any variety are one of the few vegetables I’ll eat. I’ve always been a very picky eater, unfortunately. I very much wish I loved all veggies but my tastes just won’t allow it. Believe me I’ve tried in the hope my tastes would change as I’ve grown older…but they haven’t. Beans, taters, peas and carrots are pretty much the only vegetables I can do. Sad isn’t it? I like the flavor of some other things such as maters and onion but I think it’s a texture thing for me as far as eating the actual vegetable. I’ll have to stick to onion powder and mater juice lol
Before I read a word of comments I have to say a GREAT BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to Miss Louzine
. . . and wish her many happy returns.
In rural Mississippi, most folks in my earlier days grew butter beans, some bunch and some running. There were some “speckled” ones but not the color of the one you hold. Later I learned to like the larger variety but they were mostly eaten dry. Now you see mostly “baby limas” in the frozen food case and some as dry beans.
Most butter beans by whatever name are some fine eating as long as you put some cornbread on the table.
I never had a lima bean growing up. My first time was when my mother in-law made succotash for our first Thanksgiving dinner together & they’ve been a favorite of mine ever since.
She was a marvelous cook & one that went all out, especially for Sunday dinners. Very different from my modern Moms’ delicious, but simple & usually healthy dinners, Christines’ table was full with meat, gravy, potatoes, 4 or 5 vegetables, 2 or 3 relishes, celery & olives, bread & butter and always at least 2 desserts. All homemade, all delicious. She also introduced me to squash, beets, pimento stuffed olives, coleslaw, mincemeat and lots more. She finally found someone she could share all of her favorites with.
Christmas was an especially delicious time at Christine’s. While Christmas baking at our house consisted of chocolate chip cookies made the week before Christmas, Christine started December 1st, pulling her Mother’s cookie tins out of the attic. The smell of sugar & butter filled the house all month. There were colorful sugar, snowballs, thumbprint, chocolate chips with & without nuts, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, gingerbread men cookies. There were apple, cherry & mincemeat pies.
Christine opened up my palate & showed me the joy of abundance. Whenever I invite others for a meal, I follow her lead, with lots choices. Always hoping to awaken a guest to a new taste. The grandkids are the best & totally open to something new.
Sorry, I seem to have gotten far off topic, but limas always remind me of Christine.
I know these but don’t care for them much. I love my good ole soup beans better.
We love butterbeans or lima beans by any name. Fresh or dried–the big dried ones cooked with ham were often part of our school lunch trays. We still eat them that way. This time of year they are wonderful with tomatoes & fresh corn & a slice of onion–I buy the frozen baby limas and they are delciouus. Mama grew them with great success but everyone hated picking and shelling them–they had stickers on the shell ends and it was hard to tell when they were ready to pick. I have tried to grow them but never succeeded. I ordered some running ones and had two of them come up!
Our family grew butter beans every year. It was one of our favorite vegetables. If we made vegetable soup, daddy would always tell us to make sure we put plenty of butter beans in it. When mama cooked butter beans, she always seasoned with fatback, and we would eat on them for several days. When we had to go pick them, that was a job for sure. It took a lot to make a bushel, then shelling them was no fun either, talk about some sore thumbs, gee. When I cook them now, it brings back some good memories. I still don’t think they taste quite as good as mama’s. Of course, that’s true for a lot of things.
Tipper, I enjoyed the last reading of Watermelon Hill. It was a wonderful book. Thank you for sharing it. Also, continued prayers for Granny and all of you. Have a blessed day!!
There is a fun song on You Tube about butterbeans. Type in Little David Wilkins-Butter beans. The name butter beans may come from southern cooks using butter to cook them in. Blessings to your family.
I was raised on Butter Beans, peas, co, tomatoes. “SO GOOD”!!!!!
One positive of getting injured was the food neighbors and church friends brought in. I’ve had several varieties of fresh beans = green, lima and butter as well as everyone’s favorite cake. Several people have been driving me to doctor visits and taking my wife to the grocery stores. She is prohibited from driving due to eyesight issues. One neighbor picks up the mail for us every day and checks on us.
Jackie-I’m glad you are feeling better and have plenty of good help 🙂
In my family we really enjoyed butter beans and peas. Sometimes we would cook them together and they were delicious. A meal of butter beans and peas, fried corn, fresh tomatoes and corn bread – what a feast!!! Praying for y’all. Tell Granny she is much loved and prayed for. God has her in his hands, so we are to go quietly on and trust Jesus. Take care and God bless ❤️
I didn’t know about lima beans until I was old enough to shop for food for myself. We called all sizes of them “butter beans” in Tennessee where I grew up. The term,”Butter Beans”, just sounds like a tastier dish than “lima beans” somehow…..
Seems like I remember a hand-cranked device that shelled beans by passing them through rollers one at a time. Did I dream that or does anyone else remember something like that? Can’t recall if it shelled butter beans or some other freshly picked beans or peas.
I don’t remember my family having that, but Amazon.com sure sells a rolling pea sheller, They have a vintage also, also known as old:) Everything I grew up with is now vintage! Take a look, interesting.
Gene, I think I have seen one of these. A company (Lehman’s) located in Ohio and caters to the Amish might still have some of these shellers. They still carry a lot of the old time items you no longer see in other stores. They have a website and also have a paper catalog. Do you remember the commercial bean shellers that were scattered throughout the county when people had large gardens and grew most of their food?
I teased my wife about buying here a new washer and dryer from this store. It was two number 2 galvanize tin tubs, a scrub board and a clothes line!
I do love some good butter beans! My mom use to make them and I think out of all my siblings, I was the only one that loved eating them. My mom might have grown them but honestly I don’t remember if she did. If she did then she might have realized most her family wouldn’t eat them and stopped. I know she grew a lot of beans, mostly snap beans. I have never tried growing butter beans. My husband and daughter refused to eat them when I fixed them for dinner when I’d buy them fresh to cook up, so I stopped buying them to cook. Once in a while I’ll get a hankering for some and I’ll buy me a can to eat, but they are not no where near as good as fresh cooked butter beans. Enjoy yours!
When we lived in North Carolina back in the 70’s my dear sweet sister-in-law, Sonya, gave me the greatest gift, a quart jar of shelled butter beans. That meant more to me than the sun coming out after a rain storm.
We always call the large Lima beans butter beans and the smaller ones just Lima beans. Maybe that’s a northern Appalachia thing. I don’t know. My husband loves butter beans! We both love all kinds of beans. I just always need corn bread with mine. Lol. I can’t wait for a new book to start Friday.
Yes, those beans are very pretty, look like they could make jewelry. We never tried to grow either Limaap beans or butter beans when I was growing up. Never heard of anybody growing them either. I don’t have room to experiment here. Wish I did. I ‘got in a big way’ planting field peas this year. Good thing since my beans did so poorly. We have been drying them but my wife wants to can some.
I’ll eat any kind of bean but nothing tops soup beans and cornbread!
On the hunt today for cucumbers to make Justin Metcalf’s pickles. On a brighter note, I finally found rattlesnake beans for $40 a bushel which is cheap in my area. Canned 21 quarts and that made me happy!
Everyone have a great Saturday! Continued prayers for all.
them beans look like some kind of bird eggs
Of all the foods I eat, I would have to say beans of any sort are a staple of my diet. Beans and taters are my dietary foundation. I would have to agree with you that those pink Baby Butters or Limas are very beautiful indeed, but how did they taste, Tipper? I bet if you and Deer Hunter are “plumb foolish” about them, they MUST be pretty tasty! If I could make a suggestion to the readers, purchase yourself a galvanized steel trash can (big or small.) When you go shopping, pick up a dry bag of beans or rice (around a Buck) and toss them in that air tight can. It’s better to have and not need than the other way around. It’s fine and a good idea for stash like squirrel these days.
Lima beans are my absolute favorite beans! I can’t wait to hear how the pink butter beans taste. Going to have to get me some butter beans to eat this week. Hope everyone has a blessed Saturday.
? I have never planted beans of any type. I am wondering what has to be done to plant and nurture butter beans or the different green beans so that they grow well, aside from maybe the way they are staked up? I have planted some tomato plants, cucumber, squash & zucchini, but that is it for my planting experience. My dad and mom never grew butter beans, beans in general, either, but they had a friend or two who would usually give them some and Mama would freeze them. Mama always put corn (seems like it was usually a little white silver queen corn) with her butter beans. “Butter beans and corn”, to me that was some of THE BEST eatin, I didn’t realize it at the time though. I have always looked for butter beans in the grocery store and at produce stands but that is something I have not found often except in the Ingles freezer section; though the closest Ingles grocery store to us is at least 30 minutes away from our house. The few times I have found bb’s and try to cook them with corn they just are not the same as Mama’s pot of bb’s and corn. I remember some of the ones she got would be speckled bb’s.I have looked for the seeds too but I have never found seeds either. Only in recent years have I learned that butter beans were just a small lima bean, which I have never really cared for very much. And the ones Mama always received were a light green maybe some speckled ones but I’ have never seen red ones like you have in the picture. I am glad to read what others have to say about butter beans.
Rebecca, try an old fashion feed and seed , or farm supply store, some online stores such as Seed Savers or another one that sells a lot of old time seed, I think it is either Bakers or Barkers. I remember when we would also grew speckled butter beans, I think some people may have called Jackson Wonder speckled butter beans. Those frozen grocery stores are about as alike to home grown beans as can biscuits are to homemade biscuits. By the way the closest grocery store of any name is 20-30 minutes away from me and closest store of any kind is 5 miles away! If you do find bb at a produce stand try to see if they have some already shelled, otherwise you are paying for a lot of hulls that will be thrown away after you shell them especially if they sell them by the pound. Try a farmer’s market to buy already grown.
Thank you Randy for the information. I will look for seeds in those places and maybe the place Tipper references in Western NC. I agree that store bought foods are just not the same as homemade/homegrown foods. Buying already shelled bb’s is a good idea, I would not have thought about that until after I bought and will remember that advice. Thank you.
We called them butter beans when they were large and lima when they were small. Love them. ❤️
We have lima beans growing in our garden. Around here lima beans are the small bean that is still green when you hull them and they become butter beans when they’re mature and dried. It’s interesting how different areas of the country come up with different names for the stages of the bean as it matures. No matter what we still love eating them no matter where they’re at in the growth process!
I’ve never met a bean that I didn’t like. That said, butter beans and cornbread are a match made in heaven. The pink ones in your photo are beautiful. I’ve never seen that variety.
In my family, butter beans were/are large and white beans, an alternate bean for beans and rice recipes. The bean in your photo is just about the prettiest bean I’ve ever seen, and a new bean on me!
My grandmother always grew a small white running butterbean. The seeds have long been lost. Two things you didn’t mess with were my grandmother’s strawberry patch or her butter beans. Both had to be grown a certain way…her way. I’ve helped shell many buckets of BBs sitting on the front porch and would love to get to one more time with the family members usually sitting there too.
Robert, your last sentence brings back many happy memories of sitting on the porch and shelling or breaking beans with my family when I was a kid still at home and then later on after marrying with my mother and father in law. By then my parents didn’t grow much because of my Daddy’s health. If I am truthful, as a kid I didn’t enjoy it so much even to the point of sometimes having to be encouraged to do this with a keen hickory switch! But now I would give just about anything to go back and do these simple things such as this with either my family or my wife’s family. Seeing or reading about Tipper and her family doing things together brings back memories of how it used to be with families. Folks this was back when the gardens were big and the beans were measured and picked in 5 gal. buckets or bushel baskets.
I have never heard of the pink ones and now that you mention it, I have never seen butter bean seeds nor the little green baby lima. I have seen the little green ones in the freezer section of the super market and do use them from time to time to make hummus. I do not like garbanza beans so I use either limas or I have used black eyed peas to make it. Loved the end of the Watermelon Hill book and my hubby and I are awaiting the new one next week. Give Granny my best and am praying for her and you guys. God Bless.
Glenda, I am the same. I don’t care for chickpeas and only recently tried a butter bean hummus that I liked a lot.
I like butter beans and they were my husband’s favorite. I am partial to navy beans. I haven’t tried growing any k8nd of bean but pole beans. maybe I will try next year
Now I’m craving a bowl of Lima or Butter beans. With corn bread of course! ☺️
I love eating the small butter bean and will eat the larger white ones but I don’t like them as much. Truth is there are not many beans I don’t like to eat. This week I cooked some green beans along with a few peas and a chunk of fatback threw in them. They were so good I even ate the pot likker. My family called the small ones butter beans and the large ones lima beans. A favorite variety in my area is Jackson Wonder often called colored butter beans. Once they mature and the pod begins to turn yellow, they will have some color streaks on the actual bean. I also like butter peas, they are a little different from what I know as a butter bean. I now only grow green beans and Mississippi Purple Hull crowder peas. For me, growing butter beans was not a problem, but picking and shelling them was a pain in the rear end.