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    Home • Salads • Peruvian Lima Bean Salad

    Peruvian Lima Bean Salad

    Published: Apr 13, 2020 · Last Modified: Dec 17, 2022 by Beyond Mere Sustenance with 6 Comments· This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

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    A white ceramic bowl of Peruvian lima bean salad with a grey napkin.
    A white ceramic bowl of Peruvian lima bean salad with a grey napkin.
    A white ceramic bowl of Peruvian lima bean salad with a grey napkin.

    This vegan Peruvian Lima Bean Salad features healthy vegetables and beans marinated in a zesty leche de tigre style sauce. It's something of a vegan "ceviche," a gorgeous side dish or a stand alone light meal!

    A white bowl of Peruvian lima bean salad, a pewter spoon, and grey napkin.
    Jump to:
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks - About Leche de Tigre and Lima Bean Recipes
    • 🌰 Are Lima Beans Healthy?
    • 📋 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Step by Step Instructions
    • 💭 Tips
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 🌡️ Useful Stuff
    • 🍅 What to Serve Alongside
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks - About Leche de Tigre and Lima Bean Recipes

    This Peruvian lima bean salad hearkens back to our first month-long trip to Peru in 2017. It only took me almost 3 years to re-create it in my own kitchen.

    Leche de tigre (tiger's milk) is the citrus-based, spicy marinade used to "cook" fish in classic Peruvian ceviche. More specifically, the leche de tigre is the liquid left behind the ceviche that includes the fish juices.

    Praised for its aphrodisiac qualities and as a hangover cure, that delicious liquid is seldom left behind! In fact many recipes serve a cocktail made with the leftover marinade - often presented bloody Mary style. I'm anxious to try one!

    So what does that have to do with this Peruvian lima bean salad? My husband and I have spent our last 3 anniversaries in Peru, and in 2017, we celebrated our 37th at renowned Chef Gaston Acurio's restaurant Chicha. One of our favorite "small plates" was a delicious lima bean ceviche - a vegetarian take on ceviche with the same citrus-based marinade. It was spectacular!

    Nearly 3 years later, I am finally re-creating the dish in my own kitchen. Lima beans were originally discovered in Peru, and remain an important ingredient in Peruvian cuisine. Cooked and cooled beans marinate in a ceviche-style marinade and get combined with tomatoes in a super quick, easy, and very healthy side dish or light lunch!

    I have made this Peruvian side/salad with both dried limas and frozen. With frozen lima beans and 10 minutes cooking time, this salad can be ready in 30 minutes, but the longer it soaks up the marinade, the better it tastes. It's even better the next day!

    🌰 Are Lima Beans Healthy?

    Yes, with a caveat! Raw lima beans are toxic, and require a minimum of 10 minutes cooking time before being safely consumed. Frozen beans are not cooked, but canned beans are. Dried beans must be cooked, so you're "good to go" if you start with dried.

    Lima Bean Nutrition Facts

    Nutrition facts per ½ cup serving:

    • Calories: 88
    • Protein: 5.3g
    • Carbohydrates: 15.7g
    • Fat: 0.7g
    • Sodium: 6.2mg
    • Fiber: 3.8g
    • Sugars: 1.2g

    📋 Ingredients

    Ingredients for Peruvian Lima Bean Salad - lima beans, tomatoes, rocoto chile, cilantro, red onion, lime juice and olive oil.
    • fresh lime juice
    • olive oil
    • sea salt
    • cooked lima beans - You must start with cooked firm, but not soft beans. I have used Mayocoba (Peruvian) beans in place of the lima beans in this recipe. I have also started with dried and with frozen lima beans. I would not recommend canned unless you know they're firm.
    • tomatoes - I "eat with my eyes," and choose to use tiny tomatoes in multiple colors. The choice is yours.
    • fresh chile - On photo day, I had manzano peppers - a close relative of Peruvian rocoto peppers. The pepper that I find in the US that is a close match is the Fresno chile, or habañero pepper. You can also use frozen rocotos or ají amarillo peppers.
    • cilantro
    • red onion
    • sea salt/fresh ground pepper

    🔪 Step by Step Instructions

    Lima bean salad ingredients in an orange bowl with tongs before combining.
    Lima bean salad tossed with the dressing in an orange bowl with salt and pepper grinders.
    1. Cook the lima beans - IMPORTANT NOTE: Lima beans must cook 10 minutes prior to consuming! If you're using canned or dried, they've been cooked, but if you're using frozen or fresh, they must cook 10 minutes. Boil 10 minutes.
    2. Make the marinade - Combine lime juice, olive oil, and sea salt in a liquid-tight jar, shake vigorously.
    3. Prepare the remaining ingredients - Chop the tomatoes, mince the chile pepper, chop the cilantro, and thin-slice the red onion.
    4. Marinate the salad - Add vegetables and beans to a good-sized bowl. Pour the marinade over and toss to combine thoroughly. Cover and set aside a minimum of 30 minutes or several hours.
    5. Serve - Taste for seasoning. Garnish with additional cilantro as desired. Enjoy!
    A white bowl with lima bean salad, a pewter spoon, and a grey napkin.

    💭 Tips

    This ultra simple salad really benefits from the freshest, high-quality ingredients! Don't use bottled lime juice or cardboard-like grocery store tomatoes. 😀

    I can't find Peruvian peppers. What can I substitute? Fresno chiles are a perfect substitute as they have a sweet heat similar to ají amarillo peppers. Jalapeños or serranos provide heat, but if you're heat averse, red bell pepper is a nice option! On photo day, I had fresh rocoto/manzano peppers (Peruvian). They're quite hot and a bit hard to find.

    Can I substitute another bean? YES! I have used Peruvian mayocoba beans. You can use any large, mild bean, just make sure it's cooked when you start.

    ❓ FAQ

    How long can I keep my lima bean salad?

    You want the beans to marinate at least 30 minutes, but this is a great make ahead recipe. Several hours in the marinade is awesome. Keep the salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It DOES NOT FREEZE well.

    🌡️ Useful Stuff

    Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. This helps to offset the costs of maintaining my blog and creating awesome content! 😊

    Mason Jars
    Cutting Board
    Wusthof Chef's Knife

    🍅 What to Serve Alongside

    This is a perfect Peruvian side dish to serve with butterflied and grilled Peruvian-style chicken or Peruvian chicken anticuchos. I wouldn't hesitate to serve it as a side with a rotisserie chicken or a grilled chicken breast. This salad is super versatile, very healthy, and quick to prepare!

    As the weather warms, we're navigating from soups and stews to hearty salads and warm weather fare. I think you'll find this to be a great addition to your warm weather repertoire!

    Signature in red and green with chiles and limes. Healthyish Latin cuisine.

    📖 Recipe

    A white ceramic bowl with Peruvian lima bean ceviche and a silver serving spoon and grey napkin.

    Vegan Peruvian Lima Bean Salad

    Tamara Andersen
    Lima beans and healthy vegetables marinated in a zesty leche de tigre style sauce. It's something of a vegan "ceviche," a gorgeous side dish or a stand alone light meal!
    Dairy Free
    Gluten Free
    Peanut Free
    4.50 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSave Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Cook Limas 10 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Side Dishes
    Cuisine Peruvian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 148 kcal

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 4 cups cooked lima beans - see Tips
    • 8 ounces tomatoes - coarsely chopped
    • fresh chile - minced (see Tips)
    • ½ cup cilantro leaves - chopped
    • 1 red onion - thin sliced
    • sea salt/fresh ground pepper

    Instructions

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Lima beans must cook 10 minutes prior to consuming! If you're using canned or dried, they've been cooked, but if you're using frozen or fresh, they must cook 10 minutes. Boil 10 minutes.
    • Combine lime juice, olive oil, and sea salt in a liquid-tight jar, shake vigorously.
    • Chop the tomatoes, mince the chile pepper, chop the cilantro, and thin-slice the red onion.
    • Add vegetables and beans to a good-sized bowl. Pour the marinade over and toss to combine thoroughly. Cover and set aside a minimum of 30 minutes or several hours.
    • Taste for seasoning. Garnish with additional cilantro as desired. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an approximation only from MyFitnessPal.com, and includes only half of the olive oil as much of the oil stays behind.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g

    NOTE: Macronutrients are an approximation only using unbranded ingredients and MyFitnessPal.com. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or star rating! Email us with any questions: tamara@beyondmeresustenance.com

    More Salad Recipes - Mains and Sides

    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
    • Solterito
    • Homemade Peruvian Salad Dressing
    • Grilled Chayote Salad

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    Comments

    1. Teresa says

      July 11, 2021 at 7:45 pm

      Made this with my Rancho Gordo Lime beans. They were so creamy and this recipe showcased them very well. I could not resist adding some cumin to the marinade. Delish!!!

      Reply
      • Tamara Andersen says

        July 12, 2021 at 8:24 am

        I'm so glad you liked it Teresa! And good call on the cumin; it sounds like a great addition... Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback!

        Reply
    2. Clare says

      December 28, 2020 at 6:02 am

      My husband, who lived in Peru as teenager, absolutely loved this. I've never seen him so enthusiastic about a salad before! I added some chopped cooked potato, as I had some on hand.

      Reply
      • Tamara says

        December 28, 2020 at 10:05 am

        That makes me so happy... Thanks for taking time to let me know! Happy New Year to you and yours!

        Reply
    3. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      April 15, 2020 at 8:56 am

      I have a bag of limas in the freezer and your bean salad is a great way to use some of them.

      Reply
      • Tamara says

        April 16, 2020 at 2:04 pm

        Yay! Let me know how you like it? Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply

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