Get to know
Baby Butter
Overview
Tasting notes: Vegetal • Sweet • Velvety
Grown by: Chris Capaul, Sacramento Valley, California
Harvested: October 2023
Practices: Soil-boosting rotations, supports healthy watersheds, natural weed control
Why we chose it
New to our lineup this year, our baby butter (aka baby lima) has quickly become a customer favorite – and it's easy to see why! Once overlooked for its starchy texture, it now shines thanks to its creaminess and delicate, fresh flavor. Baby butter beans are incredibly versatile, especially as the weather cools. Try them in hearty fall dishes like gratins, soups, and stews, where they pair perfectly with seasonal produce. And don't forget their starring role in classic succotash, the quintessential autumn side dish!
The sourcing backstory
One taste of baby butter beans grown by passionate farmer Chris Capaul and we knew we had to carry them! Chris’s family is one of the rare multi-generational farms left in the Sacramento Valley – an area once covered with bean farms. Chris attributes his family’s success to expertise with old vine-type varieties that are packed with flavor, precision farming techniques, and healthy rotations with rice that fight diseases naturally.
Get cookin'
Cook beans according to our step-by-step cooking guide, then plate the beans as they are, use them in a recipe, or go off-script and create something new.
Broth notes:
Light-bodied, fresh, herbal
Suggested produce pairings:
Thyme, leeks, hearty greens, delicata squash
Bonus tips:
- While using ham hock is traditional, instead try simmering with alliums (e.g., onions, garlic), root vegetables (e.g., carrots, celery root), woody herbs (e.g., rosemary, thyme), and smoked paprika for a flavorful, easy (and meat-free!) alternative.
- Simmering beans in homemade stock instead of water enhances the flavor, richness, and nutritional value of the dish.
PB recipe picks:
- Beans au gratin
- Creamy beans on toast
- Greens + bean pot licker
- Sheet-pan roasted fennel with creamy beans
Head to the PB Blog for more recipes to celebrate Baby Butter!
Cooking resources
Bean cooking guide
Bean tasting card
Bean & wine pairing guide
