Fried Lima Beans Recipe with Feta Cheese and Lemon Zest

We love using frozen lima beans in this recipe for their convenience, faster cooking time, and bright color. However, it is also possible to use dried lima beans if you prefer. If you are using dried lima beans, you will need to soak them in water overnight or for at least 8 hours before cooking them. Once ready to cook, drain the soaked lima beans, place them in a bowl, and cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, 30-45 minutes. This may seem like a lot of work for a side dish, but separate cooking of the dried lima beans is necessary to ensure they are completely tender before adding them to the flavored oil. While frozen lima beans can simply be added to the pan, dried lima beans require that extra step of soaking and pre-cooking to get the right texture once they’re simmered in olive oil and other flavors.