Peruvian Lima Bean Salad

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks – About Leche de Tigre and Lima Bean Salad

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 1/2 cup serving:

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

📋 Ingredients

• 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

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!

❓ FAQ

💭 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.

🍅 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 simple oven fried chicken thighs, 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!