Lima Bean Mash with Lemon and Olive Oil

Name: Lima Bean Mash with Lemon and Olive Oil
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 1 1/2 Cups
Ingredients: 2 cups fresh shelled or frozen baby lima beans; 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced; Salt; 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 1 lemon; Freshly ground black pepper; Country-style bread, toasted and cut into small squares or triangles

Serves
makes 1 1/2 Cups

JOYCE RAVID

Forget trendy beans—it doesn't take much to make America's own tried-and-true lima beans into something special. Pureed and spread on toasted country bread, they make a fine Mediterranean-ish appetizer. If you must be on the cutting culinary edge, simply substitute cooked fresh red lentils or fava, navy, or cannellini beans for the limas.

Ingredients

2 cups fresh shelled or frozen baby lima beans
2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
Salt
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon
Freshly ground black pepper
Country-style bread, toasted and cut into small squares or triangles

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Instructions

Step 1

Combine lima beans, garlic, 1⁄2 cup water and a generous pinch of salt in a small pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until beans are very soft, about 15 minutes.

Step 2

Coarsely puree beans and garlic in a food processor. Transfer to a small bowl and gradually beat in olive oil. Remove zest from lemon with a zester or vegetable peeler, then finely julienne zest and set aside. Halve lemon and add lemon juice to puree to taste, then season with salt and pepper. Serve in a small bowl with toasted bread on the side, or top toast with lima mash, drizzle with a little olive oil, and garnish with lemon zest.