Skillet-Cooked Sweet Corn and Lima Beans

Name: Skillet-Cooked Sweet Corn and Lima Beans
Yield: serves 8 or more as a side dish
Ingredients: 4 to 6 ears sweet corn; 3 1/2 to 4 pounds fresh lima beans in the shell; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 3 or 4 plump garlic cloves, sliced; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon peperoncino; 1 cup Basil Onion Sauce (recipe follows); A 14-inch skillet or sauté pan with a cover; 2/3 cup fresh, unblemished basil leaves, packed; 3 tablespoons best-quality extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 pound onions, cut in 1-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 cups chunks); 1 cup leek chunks (1-inch pieces); 2 cups water; 1/2 teaspoon salt; (makes about 1 cup)

December 14, 2011

Sweet corn and fresh lima beans are natural garden partners and one of my favorite vegetable combinations. I like traditional American succotash (originally a Native American dish, in fact), in which the vegetables are cooked together in water, milk, or cream. But limas and corn are especially delicious when prepared by my covered-skillet method, with olive oil and garlic (and a bit of peperoncino). You must use fresh-cut corn kernels and lima beans right out of the shell for this dish—frozen corn and limas will get mushy and just don’t have the flavor. Cutting corn kernels off the cob is easy. For a fast method, see below. And shucking lima beans is a pleasant task that I enjoy. Though I admit that Gianni, my mother’s boyfriend, is always happy to help me when I’ve got pounds of beans to shell.

Recipe notes

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Frijoles Peruanos (Peruvian Refried Beans)

Mayocobas, or canary beans, are the quick-cooking pantry ingredient you should know about.

Gochujang Turkey Sweet Potatoes

Fully loaded, meal-prep friendly, and ready to be dressed up, down, or sideways.