I accidentally discovered a great mashed potatoe substitute

[Guest guest]

I was going to make refried beans but realized that I only had big

lima beans on hand, left over from a day when I made soup (already

soaked and frozen). My husband hates limas, but...I was tired and

didn't want to go to the market.

When they were ready to cook I saw a few skins floating in the

water. The skins were very tough. They looked like bad news to me,

so I tried to see how easy/hard it would be to remove the skins from

all of the beans. It was very easy! The beans just popped right out

when I pinched one side.

After I had removed all of the skins, I put them in a pot, covered

them with water and cooked them. They cooked very quickly. When

they were done, I spooned the cooked, shucked limas into my food

processor (thinking I would re-fry them). I turned it on high for a

few seconds and then checked the beans. I thought, " these look so

much like mashed potatoes, I wonder what they taste like? " . I tasted

them: bland but good. I added some salt and a little butter and

whirrled them some more. They were starting to taste good! I put in

a little more butter and whirrled them again, this time until they

were a uniform smoothness.

That night the lima bean rose to the top of the family's favorite

list. We have them at least three times a week now, used as a

delicious substitute for mashed potatoes. They are a much closer

substitute than califlower, and even guests ask for seconds. Just

delicious!

So, to recap:

wash and soak the large lima beans

shuck them (pinch them to remove the skins). Two people can shuck a

bag of limas in about ten minutes. It's very easy.

cook them until soft in just enough water to cover the beans.

Put them in a food processor or blender, and whirl them until they

look like real mashed potatoes

Add butter, salt or whatever you like on mashed potatoes.