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Produce Briefs...
Ramps
The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
Salanova® Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Grower
Christmas Lima beans are tucked inside of a wide, curved and flat roughly four-inch green pod speckled with earth brown tones. The pod is easily opened at its stringless seam, revealing three tender and semi-succulent creamy white beans that are variegated with raspberry colored patterns. Eventually the beans will harden and dry, their coloring reversing, with more of the beans' surface covered with tones of burgundy with white speckles. The flavor of Christmas Lima beans is buttery, sweet and reminiscent of chestnuts.
Christmas Lima beans are appropriately available from fall to late winter.
Christmas Lima beans, Phaseolus lunatus, are defined in culinary terms, as a legume, their appearance as a pole bean merely serving the purpose of the pod securing the beans inside through maturity. Unlike snap beans, the pod is not eaten. Christmas Limas are an heirloom variety of Lima beans, their place within the commercial market quite rare, especially because they are mainly grown as a fresh shelling bean and most legumes are grown and processed as a dry or canned bean.
Christmas Lima beans do not require soaking. They can be simply rinsed prior to preparation. They can be treated as a fresh shelling bean or a dry bean, thus their cooking time will vary depending on their age. Christmas Lima beans compliment a variety of flavors and dishes from season to region. Hearty Winter stews, spicy soups and bright, fresh Spring salads are each enhanced by Christmas Lima beans' buttery texture and nutty flavor. Christmas Limas are rich enough to stand up to curries and chiles, indulgent meats such as lamb and pork. They can also be prepared simply with the addition of olive oil, fresh herbs such as mint, cilantro and basil. Perfect companion ingredients include garlic, forest mushrooms and fresh hulled corn along with cheeses like feta and gorgonzola.
Christmas Lima beans were named for Lima, Peru, the capital city that they were first cultivated in the 19th Century, although their exact origins are unknown. Christmas Limas perform best in similar climates that other pole beans thrive in. Their growing season is boosted by warm soil, arid climates and long sunny days. Regions throughout the Americas create abundant harvests of the Christmas Lima bean, though their commercial recognition is nearly obsolete. They have actually been listed as an endangered heirloom vegetable variety, at risk of becoming void of the food chain - this status is designed to promote and encourage the Christmas Lima to be grown by farmers and gardeners, to ensure they remain in production and in turn continue to be appreciated by consumers for decades and centuries to come.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Christmas Lima Shelling Beans. One
is easiest, three is harder.
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Christmas Lima Shelling Beans using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
| Two Peas in a Pod | Homepage |
Description/Taste
Christmas Lima beans are tucked inside of a wide, curved and flat roughly four-inch green pod speckled with earth brown tones. The pod is easily opened at its stringless seam, revealing three tender and semi-succulent creamy white beans that are variegated with raspberry colored patterns. Eventually the beans will harden and dry, their coloring reversing, with more of the beans' surface covered with tones of burgundy with white speckles. The flavor of Christmas Lima beans is buttery, sweet and reminiscent of chestnuts.
Seasons/Availability
Christmas Lima beans are appropriately available from fall to late winter.
Current Facts
Christmas Lima beans, Phaseolus lunatus, are defined in culinary terms, as a legume, their appearance as a pole bean merely serving the purpose of the pod securing the beans inside through maturity. Unlike snap beans, the pod is not eaten. Christmas Limas are an heirloom variety of Lima beans, their place within the commercial market quite rare, especially because they are mainly grown as a fresh shelling bean and most legumes are grown and processed as a dry or canned bean.
Applications
Christmas Lima beans do not require soaking. They can be simply rinsed prior to preparation. They can be treated as a fresh shelling bean or a dry bean, thus their cooking time will vary depending on their age. Christmas Lima beans compliment a variety of flavors and dishes from season to region. Hearty Winter stews, spicy soups and bright, fresh Spring salads are each enhanced by Christmas Lima beans' buttery texture and nutty flavor. Christmas Limas are rich enough to stand up to curries and chiles, indulgent meats such as lamb and pork. They can also be prepared simply with the addition of olive oil, fresh herbs such as mint, cilantro and basil. Perfect companion ingredients include garlic, forest mushrooms and fresh hulled corn along with cheeses like feta and gorgonzola.
Geography/History
Christmas Lima beans were named for Lima, Peru, the capital city that they were first cultivated in the 19th Century, although their exact origins are unknown. Christmas Limas perform best in similar climates that other pole beans thrive in. Their growing season is boosted by warm soil, arid climates and long sunny days. Regions throughout the Americas create abundant harvests of the Christmas Lima bean, though their commercial recognition is nearly obsolete. They have actually been listed as an endangered heirloom vegetable variety, at risk of becoming void of the food chain - this status is designed to promote and encourage the Christmas Lima to be grown by farmers and gardeners, to ensure they remain in production and in turn continue to be appreciated by consumers for decades and centuries to come.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Solterra Winery + Kitchen | Encinitas CA | 760-230-2970 |
| Viewpoint Brewing Co. | Del Mar CA | 858-205-9835 |
| Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Christmas Lima Shelling Beans. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Spotted
People have spotted Christmas Lima Shelling Beans using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
santa monica farmers market Two Peas in a Pod
Laurie Nichols
Near San Diego, California, United StatesTwo Peas In A Pod About 158 days ago, 8/15/18 Spotter's comments : Christmas Lima Shelling Beans spotted at santa monica farmers market Two Peas in a Pod. 
Santa Monica Farmers Market
Lori
Near Santa Monica, California, United States2 Peas In A Pod 805-801-3370 About 508 days ago, 8/30/17 Spotter's comments : Christmas Lima Shelling Beans spotted at Santa Monica Farmers Market. 
Santa Monica Farmers Market
Lori
Near Santa Monica, California, United States2 Peas In A Pod 805-801-3370 About 536 days ago, 8/02/17 Spotter's comments : Christmas Lima Shelling Beans spotted at Santa Monica Farmers Market. |
