Succotash

Succotash – a healthy and easy side dish of basically corn and beans that features summer’s favorite fresh produce with a little touch of heat for flavor. A wholesome dish to go with your favorite grilled meat or a centerpiece for any meal. Healthy, easy, and budget-friendly.

Contents… What Is Succotash? What Goes in a Succotash Recipe? Alternative Ingredients Tips and Tricks How To Store Leftover Succotash? Making Ahead Instructions What To Serve With Succotash? Other Corn Recipes That You’d Love How To Make Succotash?

I’m already looking forward to anything corn. Which I may say was on sale. And you probably know by now, I tend to get too impulsive when I see my usual ingredients on sale. So I bought a couple of them (*coughs*) just so I can make a fantastic side for my dinner steak.

What Is Succotash?

Succotash is a recipe that has SUMMER all over its name. It is a popular dish in the South although it originated from a Northern Native American word msickquatash, which means “a dish of boiled or stewed corn”.

It’s a simple dish using a corn and beans combo along with other easy-to-find vegetables. In other parts of the US like Pennsylvania and New England, Succotash is a traditional recipe on Thanksgiving Day. But over the years, it became a fresh wholesome dish, especially during BBQ days and summer parties.

What Goes in a Succotash Recipe?

• Lima Beans – some versions of Succotash use Navy beans but fresh or frozen lima beans are the way to go. If using frozen lima beans, DO NOT thaw them before adding them to the skillet.
• Bacon – for deeper flavor ’cause anything with bacon is great. Agree? We also use the same skillet with bacon fat drippings to cook the vegetables.
• Onion – chop it first before sauteing, it will give a sweet and savory taste to the succotash
• Red Bell Pepper –  ripe red bell peppers are the sweetest, same with yellow bell peppers.
• Garlic – together with onions and creole seasoning, garlic adds a savory taste and aroma to this dish
• Corn Kernels – fresh corn is always preferred in this recipe as they are more flavorful and crisp. When cooking corn, make sure NOT to overcook it so you’ll retain that lovely crunch in between bites.
• Creole Seasoning – a staple seasoning mix of mine that has a dominant savory and spicy taste. You can use other herb and spice mix that is available to you for this recipe.
• Salt and Pepper – to taste, don’t forget to put a sprinkle of these whenever you’re cooking.
• Cherry Tomatoes – make a lovely choice for this recipe as it adds sweetness and acidity. Stir them in along with the basil leaves so they hold their shape and juiciness.
• Basil – it gives a savory, sweet, and subtle peppery taste. Add it to the last part of cooking.

Alternative Ingredients

• Olive Oil – a healthy oil substitute for rendered bacon used in sauteing the ingredients. It also adds a subtle nutty flavor to the dish.
• Other types of beans. It’s alright if you don’t have Lima beans ready, don’t sweat it! Use other available beans like Fava, Pinto, or Edamame. They’re all definitely nutritious and tasty.
• Herbs and Spices. Other alternatives to fresh basil would be tarragon, chives, or parsley.
• Poblano Peppers – Others would use charred poblanos to bump up the warmness of this recipe. But in our case for today, I added a teaspoon of my homemade Creole Seasoning for a bit of heat.
• Paprika – To make it completely vegetarian, omit the bacon and swap it with smoked paprika to keep that smoky rich flavor and olive oil to cook the veggies.
• Canned Lima Beans – You may use canned lima beans and even canned corn if pressed for time. 😉 Just make sure to drain well before adding it into the skillet.

Tips and Tricks

Succotash Casserole – who would’ve known? Transform your veggie dish into a casserole by adding cheese like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and parmesan. Mouthwatering!😋

Meaty Succotash – for a more southern style approach to this lovely veggie medley, add some sauteed sausages to it. Or aside from bacon, you may also add some seafood bits into this dish like chopped cooked lobster meat and cooked shrimps.

Spicy Succotash – roast some Jalapeños then take out the seed, cut it and add to the succotash for an add spice and heat to it.

Herbs and spices. Got your own favorite herb? Throw it in! That’s the beauty of this budget-friendly dish – almost any ingredient can be added to it.

Apple Cider – add a tablespoon of this to the succotash to give it an extra tangy and sweet flavor. Really goes well in dishes like this which are naturally sweet and savory.

Select bell peppers. If you’ve ever seen a bell pepper that has 4 bumps or more at the bottom, it means that it is a female bell pepper. It has a sweeter flavor than its male counterpart.

Add any veggies you want. Aside from fresh corn kernels and lima or shelling beans, Succotash also features bell pepper, tomatoes, and okra. One of the great things about this corn and bean combo is that you can pretty customize it to whatever you have on hand.

Buttery Succotash. For that hint of buttery flavor, you may add 1 tablespoon of butter towards the end.

 How To Store Leftover Succotash?

Refrigerator: Transfer leftover Succotash to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Freezer: Transfer leftover Succotash to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for 6 months. 

Making Ahead Instructions

1. Mise en place. You can start preparing a day before you cook Succotash. Just cut all the ingredients and vegetables and store them separately in the refrigerator.
2. Cook the beans and set them aside. All you have to do the next day is to sautee all the ingredients in one pot. Easy-Peasy-Lemon-Squeezy!
3. When you cook it put first the flavoring or spices and seasoning to infuse flavor, followed by the ingredient that cooks longer and lasts the ones that cook fast.

What To Serve With Succotash?

A versatile dish that can be a meal on its own or a great side to these scrumptious dishes below.

• Baby Back Ribs
• Grilled Shrimp Kabob
• Paprika Garlic Chicken
• Carne Asada

Other Corn Recipes That You’d Love

• Creamed Corn
• Southern Fried Corn
• Corn Pudding
• Cajun Corn Shrimp Soup
• Black Bean and Corn Salad

How To Make Succotash?

Prep The Beans And Bacon

• Boil the beans. Place lima beans in a medium saucepan, add about 2-3 cups of water to cover the beans, bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Render the bacon. Place bacon in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and cook until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon crumbs to paper towels and set aside. Reserve drippings in skillet.

Sauteing the Veggies

• Saute. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic to skillet; cook stirring until onion is softened, about 3-5 minutes. (Photos 1-2)
• Season and add in Lima beans. Stir in fresh corn kernels, Creole seasoning, salt, pepper, and drained lima beans. Cook, stirring often until corn is tender and bright yellow, about 5-6 minutes. (Photo 3) 
• Add tomatoes and herbs. Add in the cherry tomatoes and basil leaves. (Photo 4)
• Finish cooking then garnish. Remove from heat, sprinkle with bacon and serve immediately.

This blog post was first published in May 2019 and has been updated with additional information.