Instant Pot Lima Beans (dry, large bean)

KeyVion Miller RDN, LD/N

A heart-healthy, Southern classic side dish that's tender and delish!

4.62 from 13 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

*times shown reflect cook time for presoaked beans 40

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Soul Food, Southern

Servings servings

Calories 80 kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot Plus Mini or larger

Knife

Cutting board

Liquid measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Ingredients

2 cups dry large lima beans
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup diced onion or a small onion, diced
4-6 small, dry bay leaves If using larger bay leaves then you can use less
4 cups unsalted chicken broth + 1 cup of water
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Without Soaking Beans

Measure out 2 cups of dry beans. Sort through the beans to make sure there aren't any stones or discolored beans.
Add all ingredients to the instant pot and give it a stir.
Place lid on instant pot and turn valve to "sealing". Cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. Based on my experience testing this recipe, it took that long for the large lima beans to get tender. This makes the total cook time 1 hr and 30 minutes.
*To err on the side of caution you can start lower at 50 minutes and just add more time as needed.
After it beeps, use a pot holder or long utensil to turn the valve to "VENTING" using the quick release. Be very careful not to have your hand over the valve because it will release steam and burn your hand.

Using Presoaked Beans

Add presoaked beans and all other ingredients to the instant pot. Place lid on instant pot and turn the valve to "sealing". Cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. This makes the total cook time ~30 minutes.
*You can add more minutes if needed to get them to your desired level of tenderness. I found that this method does give some shells. I don't mind it but I know some people do!

Stovetop

Saute onions in olive oil or butter for ~2 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add all other ingredients to the pot. Bring to a boil.
Once it's boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook until tender.

Notes

You can add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter to the instant pot version. I left it off and it is not included in the nutrition facts.
Start with ¼ teaspoon of salt and add more as needed once you taste it at the end. Salt is not included in the nutrition facts.
*Note: Older beans take longer to cook and can affect cook times
To make vegan, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth
Add any of your other favorite seasonings!
Serving size = ½ cup

Equipment used: (*These are my affiliate links. I earn a commission on purchases using this link)

Instant Pot Plus Mini

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 80kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 7gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 28mgPotassium: 376mgFiber: 8gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 2mg

Keyword healthy soul food, healthy southern food, instant pot dried lima beans, instant pot lima beans, lima beans, vegan, vegetarian

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