These Creamy Spanish Butter Beans are what delicious & healthy food is all about. They´re packed with flavors, easy to make and promise to fill your body with so much goodness. Serve these beans as main course or even as a side dish, next to some Spanish cod.
The beauty of this dish is the texture of the butter beans (which are also known as lima beans). They have the most incredble creamy texture with a melt-in-your-mouth interior.
To make this recipe I used dried butter beans. But you can take the short-cut and use canned butter beans. However, for this recipe, I prefer to use the dried ones. As it takes this simple recipe to the next-level in goodness.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: After soaking the beans overnight, it took me about 1 1/2 hours to perfectly boil the beans to a beautiful creamy texture. Make sure to check the package instructions on the butter beans you are using, as it may take more or less time to cook them through.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY NONSTICK FRY PAN
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL I USED
SPANISH SEA SALT
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make Creamy Spanish Butter Beans
Creamy Spanish Butter Beans | Alubias Garrafón Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 grams
- 1 cup dried butter beans 180 grams
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 carrot
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme .50 grams
- 1 bay leaf
- handful finely chopped parsley
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
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Add 1 cup butter beans into a sieve, rinse under cold water, making sure to remove any debris or broken beans, add the beans into a lage bowl and fill with 4 cups (1 liter) cold water, let them sit overnight or between 8 to 12 hours
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Drain the beans back into the sieve, rinse under cold water and set aside
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Finely chop 1 onion, 1 carrot (peeled), 1 green bell pepper and roughly chop 4 cloves garlic
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Heat a stock pot with a medium heat and add in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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After 2 minutes add in the chopped vegetables, mix with the olive oil, after 3 minutes and the onion is translucent, add in the butter beans and a generous 1/2 tsp dried thyme, mix together, then add in 5 cups (1200 ml) cold water and 1 bay leaf, turn up the heat to a high heat and bring to a boil, then place a lid on the pan and lower to a low-medium heat
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Once the beans are fully cooked through and have a creamy interior, about 1 1/2 hours (check package instructions on your beans), season with sea salt & black pepper, gently mix together, then remove from the heat
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Transfer into shallow bowls and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh parsley, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Extra Virgin Olive Oil I used to make this Recipe
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Crimson Chan
06 . Jan . 2024I made this while added another 2 tomatoes (reduced the amount of water added). Some said it’s quite bland so I added a bit of chicken bouillon as well. Tastes great and healthy as always!
Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Much love 🙂
07 . Jan . 2024June
02 . Nov . 2023We found this bland and lacking. I used canned beans. While making this I was thinking it will be flavorful because of the good ingredients. Thinking of adding better than bullion ham base when I reheat.
Denise Pool
Hi!
06 . Sep . 2023Sounds amazing and I’m trying it tomorrow. Any chance you can tell me how long to cook them in an Instant Pot? Soaked.
Spain on a Fork
I have never used an instant pot, but I assume you would cook them on high pressure for about 1 hour 🙂 much love
06 . Sep . 2023Kim
Love this recipe as implemented e and easy my son is a picky eater and he’ll enjoy this Thank you.
18 . Jul . 2023Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Much love 🙂
19 . Jul . 2023Charlaine Welch
Great dish I am diabetic and can have this dish for dinner with out any spike in blood sugar
01 . Jul . 2023Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
01 . Jul . 2023Donna
Instead of the overnight soak, can I let them soak in boiling water for about an hour or so, then continue with the recipe? Thanks
12 . Mar . 2023Spain on a Fork
Your can bring the water to a boil with the beans, then turn off the heat and cover, let it the sit for 1 hour and you should be ok 🙂 Much love
13 . Mar . 2023Carolyn
Hi! If using canned butter beans, how many cans? Thx!
16 . Feb . 2023Spain on a Fork
Two 15.5 oz (440 grams) cans 🙂 Much love!
17 . Feb . 2023Don
18 . Jan . 2023Thank you so much for this recipe!! This is the best recipe for dried butter beans I have found. In the US we make them with chunks of ham but I have to confess that this recipe of yours was better.
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
19 . Jan . 2023Andrea
09 . May . 2022I made this recipe last night, and WOW! Love it! I used vegetable stock instead of water and found that I did not need to add salt. So delicious AND healthy! I will definitely make this recipe again. Thank you very much.
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that!! Much love 🙂
09 . May . 2022tanya perrin
07 . May . 2022Albert I just have to compliment you on your absolutely beautiful photos!!! They are so inspiring and I only wish I could reach through the screen and taste the foods you create! Well done friend!
Spain on a Fork
Appreciate the comment Tanya 🙂 Much love!
08 . May . 2022Amar Hussein
Love your recipes! Just a word on timings and the broth, if I used canned butter beans does the liquid (broth) ratio change and how long would one need to cook the canned butter beans for?
Thanks Albert, you really are a ray of sunshine with your tasty and healthy recipes.
26 . Apr . 2022Spain on a Fork
I would just add in 1 cup of water and simmer for 10 minutes if using canned butter beans, appreciate the comment Amar 🙂 much love
26 . Apr . 2022Ramya
cant wait to make this soon for me i never had creamy spanish butter beans before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
25 . Apr . 2022Spain on a Fork
Sounds great Ramya! Thanks for the comment 🙂 much love
25 . Apr . 2022