Succotash with Farro Piccolo
introduction
Reminiscent of late morning sun in a kitchen garden in the midsummer heat of the South, succotash is a summer side dish at its most obliging. Fish, chops, roast chicken, grilled chicken, you name it—they love to spoon with our succotash. No spindly, Depression-era vegetable mélange lacking energy and oomph, this succotash carries the perfume of shallots, the briskness of fresh thyme, the welcome backbone of rich chicken stock, and the silky effects of a splash of cream. You’ll want to sit down and polish off the whole bowl.
Cooking Remarks
Lima beans, those things we loved to hate back when we were little, seem to have gotten scraped off the plate pretty much for good, except in the South. Shelly beans, butter beans, black eyes, limas—all over South Carolina you’ll find fresh beans in green markets shelled, bagged, and waiting in coolers to be taken home. If you’re “not from around here,” as folks from around here like to say, frozen baby limas may be your best option. Don’t hold the freezer against them—the starch in limas persuades them to freeze beautifully. If you have the good fortune to be “from around here,” or if you’ve gotten some fresh limas anyway, plunge ahead.
equipment mise en place
For this recipe, you will need a chef’s knife, a large skillet or sauteuse (a round pan with small handles and straight, low sides), and a wooden spoon.
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1ounce (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
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2medium shallots, minced (2 tablespoons)
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1cup Rich Homemade Chicken Stock or low-sodium boxed chicken broth
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¾cup (3.5 ounces) fresh shelled lima beans or frozen baby lima beans (still frozen)
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2medium ears sweet corn, shucked, silk removed, and kernels sliced from the cob (1 cup or 5 ounces)
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3tablespoons heavy cream
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Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
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2teaspoons minced fresh thyme
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Melt the butter in a large skillet or sauteuse over low heat until it foams. Add the shallots and sauté, stirring frequently, until fragrant and softened, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock, increase the heat to medium, and bring to a simmer. Stir in the lima beans—fresh or frozen—and simmer, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the farro, corn, and cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables and farro are tender and the chicken stock and cream have reduced to a rich, luscious glaze, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and the thyme. Taste for seasoning and serve hot.