Butter Beans Curry also known as the lima bean is a South Indian curry made with double beans or butter beans. A butter bean curry is more than just a side dish, it is filling and satisfying.
These tiny kidney shaped legumes are cooked well with the spices to get the nice aromatic taste and texture. Because the beans themselves have a mild, buttery flavor and they serve as the perfect side dish for a wide range of culinary styles. We can cook them like a rich, North Indian-inspired gravy using a base of crushed tomatoes, ginger, and garlic, or cook them like that of South Indian style with coconut based masalas. Either way the beans fit themselves perfectly with the spices added.
The beauty of a butter bean curry lies in its versatility and accessibility. It can be served as the best accompaniment with roti or rice alike. In every variation, the star remains the same: a bean that is so tender it practically melts on the tongue, yet substantial enough to leave you feeling fully nourished.
Beyond the flavor, this dish is a nutritional powerhouse. Butter beans are packed with plant-based protein, essential minerals like iron and potassium, and a significant amount of dietary fiber.
The curry is a favorite among vegans and vegetarians. It is the kind of meal that perfectly fit for every season, be it a rainy evening or winter chill nights or whenever you need to boost the energy.
Whether using dried beans soaked overnight or fresh ones the result is consistently delicious. It is a “one-pot wonder” that minimizes cleanup while maximizing output. It is approachable, affordable, and undeniably soul-warming.
Butter beans (lima beans) are a nutritional powerhouse, offering a wide range of benefits for heart health, digestion, and long-term wellness.
Nutritional Highlights of Butter Beans Curry:
A one-cup (approx. 170–190g) serving of cooked butter beans provides roughly:
- Protein: ~12–15g of plant-based protein.
- Fiber: ~9–13g (about 30–50% of the daily recommended intake).
- Key Minerals: High in manganese (92% DV), copper (58% DV), magnesium (30% DV), and iron (23% DV).
- Vitamins: Rich in folate (B9), which is crucial for red blood cell formation and fetal development during pregnancy.
Credits: Google.
Health benefits of Butter Beans:
- They are good for heart health.
- They help in controlling blood sugar.
- They contain prebiotic fiber helps in gut bacteria.
- A plant-based iron, helps transportation of oxygen in the blood and combat fatigue.
Butter Beans Curry | Lima Beans curry
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Butter Beans
- 1 tbsp Cashew Nuts
- 1 tbsp Poppy Seeds
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper Seeds
- Salt to Taste
- 1/2 cup Curd
- 3 tbsp Oil
- 1 Green Chilli
- 5 Curry Leaves
- 1 Onion
- 1 Tomato
- 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- 1 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1 tbsp Coriander Leaves
Instructions
- Soak butter beans for at least 3 to 4 hours.
- Soak cashew nuts, poppy seeds for 1 hour.
- Finely chop onions and tomatoes.
- Slit green chillis.
- In a blender jar add cashew nuts and poppy seeds along with pepper seeds.
- Blend to make smooth paste.
- We can add a spoonful of onion also.
- Keep this paste aside.
- In a thick bottom pan heat oil.
- Add cumin seeds, once they start spluttering add chopped onions and fry them well.
- Add slit chillis and curry leaves. Saute them once.
- Add ginger garlic paste and fry till the rawness goes off.
- Add chopped tomatoes and fry till they turn soft and mushy.
- Add curd and mix it well.
- Add soaked butter beans, salt, turmeric powder.
- While adding all other masalas, chilli powder, garam masala, and coriander powder sauté them well.
- Add 1 cup of water and pressure cook for 4 to 6 whistles.
- Once the pressure cools completely, open the lid and allow the curry to cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- This would make the curry thicken.
- Serve butter beans curry with roti or rice.