"Soup is the kitchen sink. With a little creativity and planning, you can virtually eliminate kitchen waste at home and in commercial kitchens. The chefs who taught me always said, 'The best soups are the ones that cost nothing to make.'" — Chef Blackwell Smith, Lucky Cajun
When the chilly season sets in there's nothing better than a warm, hearty bowl of soup. This healthy lima bean soup is one of those recipes that proves the point — dried beans, bacon, root vegetables, a good stock, and Lucky Cajun Black Label doing the heavy lifting on flavor. Simple ingredients, real depth, and a bowl that actually satisfies.
This recipe was featured in Food Drink Life's roundup of the best winter soups alongside some of the best soup minds in the country. We're in good company.
Why Lima Beans
Lima beans are one of the most underrated legumes in the American kitchen. Creamy, substantial, and high in fiber and protein, they hold up in a long braise without turning to mush. They absorb the flavors around them — bacon fat, Cajun seasoning, good stock — and give the soup a body that lighter beans can't match.
Soak them overnight. Don't skip this. Dried lima beans that haven't been soaked take forever and never get the right texture.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried lima beans, soaked overnight and drained
- 1 large onion, diced
- ½ pound carrots, cut into large chunks
- 1 celery stalk, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 strips of bacon, chopped
- 5 cups salt-free stock
- 2½ tablespoons Lucky Cajun Black Label seasoning
Instructions
1. Build the Base Using an Instant Pot or large pressure cooker, sauté the bacon, onion, carrots, and celery in olive oil until the vegetables are tender and the bacon is slightly crisp. Don't rush this step — the fond that builds on the bottom of the pot is where the depth comes from.
2. Combine Add the soaked lima beans, salt-free stock, and Lucky Cajun Black Label to the pot. Stir well to combine.
3. Pressure Cook Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 1 hour. Allow pressure to release naturally for 10-15 minutes before opening.
4. Serve Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with grilled cheese, toast, or crusty bread. For a heartier meal add sausage or shredded chicken directly to the bowl.
Vegetarian Option
Skip the bacon and add root vegetables — rutabagas, turnips, or beets — to build the same depth of flavor. Brussels sprouts or cabbage work beautifully in the mix too. Use Lucky Cajun Salt-Free Original instead of Black Label if you're controlling sodium entirely.
Tips
Don't have lima beans? Any dried bean works — just adjust the cooking time for smaller beans to avoid overcooking them into mush.
Lima beans are one of the most versatile legumes in the pot. They pair well with almost any herb or spice direction you want to take them. Black Label keeps it Cajun. Muy Thai takes it somewhere completely different. Both work.
The best soups cost almost nothing to make. This one proves it.
Lucky Cajun Black Label is fresh-ground weekly in Tennessee with a Born On Date on every pouch. Shop Black Label.
