This Summer Succotash is the perfect recipe to take advantage of that summer vegetable bounty. Salty bacon, sweet corn, lima beans, okra, and tart tomatoes combine in a dish that tastes as good as it looks! I’ve included the measurements for frozen vegetables as well, so you can enjoy this dish all year round!
There is hardly a better way to showcase fresh, crisp, beautiful vegetables better than in a vibrant, colorful succotash.
I’ve always been intrigued by this dish. It’s just so beautiful, but often times the dish falls a little flat – in my opinion. So, I set out to reconstruct the dish to add more flavor and include measurements for frozen replacements of the fresh veggies so you can make this any time of the year.
What is succotash?
Well, my internet sleuthing tells me that succotash originated with the Narragansett indigenous people in what is New England today. They introduced the dish to the North American colonists somewhere in the 17th century. From there, the dish became popular in New England eventually landing a spot on many Thanksgiving tables in the northeast.
What is in succotash?
It seems that most traditional succotash includes corn, beans, and sometimes peppers. But as this dish was shared throughout the country, different places added different ingredients. Most say the South’s contribution came in the form of bacon or salt pork and okra.
For me, the traditional ingredients were obvious. Fresh corn, lima beans, and peppers build the base. After having it with green bell peppers, and having made it that way for years, I decided to swap that green pepper for a milder and sweeter orange, yellow, or red bell pepper. (Did you know they’re all the same pepper? The color just changes with amount of time it stays on the plant. The longer, the redder and sweeter.)
The addition of bacon adds a saltiness that I love and the rendered bacon fat helps to create a sauce that adds a lot to this dish. Okra adds some great flavor and helps to thicken that sauce which comes together by way of the bacon fat, chicken broth, and okra.
Rounding it out is tomatoes. While many traditional versions of this dish don’t include them, I think the color really adds to the visual appeal of the dish. The acid from the tomatoes also adds tons to the flavor profile. Wanting even more of that, I added a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
The result is a dish that tastes just about as good as it looks. It’s an impressive recipe that’s perfect for those summer gatherings when the vegetables are at their peak, but is also perfect for nearly anytime of year as frozen versions of those veggies are often just as tasty!
Bacon – For me, this is a requirement. It gives the dish tons of salty, smoky flavor and some crispy texture. With that being said, for a vegetarian version, you could simply replace the bacon fat with a few tablespoons of olive oil and start with step #2.
Onion – Any onion will work, but I really prefer a sweet onion like a Vidalia.
Pepper – Avoid the sharp flavor of the green bell pepper and go for a yellow, orange or red. They’re sweeter and a bit milder. Yes, green will work – the flavor will just be a little different. I found a whole pepper to be too much flavor, so I only included half of a large pepper.
Garlic – One of my favorite ingredients, garlic adds a lot of flavor to this dish. I use 3 cloves, but feel free to use more or less.
Chicken Broth – Chicken broth helps to build a sauce to coat the vegetables giving them more flavor.
Baby Lima Beans – Lima beans are one of the fundamental ingredients in this recipe. I opt for frozen baby limas as they’re much easier to find than fresh. You’ll need about 3 cups or a 15 to 16-ounce bag of frozen beans.
Okra – While some folks will turn their nose up at this ingredient, I think it helps to thicken the sauce and adds great flavor as well. I used about 2 cups of sliced okra which was about 6 ounces (by weight) before I sliced it.
Corn – Another required element, I opt to use a fresh, sweet corn that I cut off the cob. You’ll need 3 cups, which I found to be about 4 ears. A 14.4-ounce bag of frozen corn should give you the same measurement.
Tomatoes – I chose multicolored grape tomatoes in this recipe to add some vibrancy, but any cherry or grape tomato will work. You can also use 2 regular large tomatoes that you’ve diced.
Apple Cider Vinegar – This ingredient adds some tanginess and helps to round out the sauce you’ve built and adds a punch.
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- ½ large orange, yellow, or red bell pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen baby lima beans about 3 cups
- 2 cups sliced okra
- 3 cups corn about 4 ears or one 14.4-ounce bag frozen
- 1 pint grape tomatoes halved or 2 large tomatoes diced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove using tongs or slotted spoon to allow the drippings to stay in the pan. Drain the bacon on paper towels and crumble. Set aside.
- Return the skillet to the heat and add the onion and pepper. Cook until the onion is translucent – about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute- being cautious not to burn it. Use a slotted spoon to remove the onion, pepper, and garlic to a small bowl and keep the drippings in the pan. Set the vegetables aside.
- Add the chicken broth to the skillet. Once bubbling, add the lima beans. Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until done to your liking. Add the okra and cook, stirring occasionally, until the okra has caused the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Add the corn and return the onions, pepper, and garlic to the pan. Stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, until the corn is tender. Add the vinegar and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the tomatoes and stir to combine. Remove from the heat. The residual heat will cook the tomatoes through. Sprinkle with the crumbled bacon. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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Could you add black eyed peas as well?
I suppose you could add fresh black eyed peas, yes.
It’s delicious
Thanks, Jackie!
My mother always made this succotash, but she would simmer it in plain tomato sauce, not spaghetti sauce, and I just devoured it. We all did. It looks so good I could eat it off the screen. There was no bacon in her succotash, and it was still excellent. Thanks, Stacey
That sounds amazing, Donna! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness ❣️ I have never made such a delicious vegetable dish. I can’t thank you enough for sharing this recipe. I think we found a new favorite 😜
Oh! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I just finish with this & doubled the recipe… for myself lol. Dinner & lunch for the week. It’s so good, I’ve been wanting to try this recipe & super happy I did! Thank you! 10/10
It looks amazing, Joni! So glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe is soooo good. Going to make and share it with friends and family.
Thanks, Rita!
What vegetable would you suggest using to substitute the okra? Or should I just use less chicken stock or maybe a thickening agent?
I think you’re on the right path here. I think omitting the okra, reducing he broth, and adding a little cornstarch slurry might work.
This recipe is delicious, definitely 5 star, and beautiful to boot. It makes a huge amount for 2 people though. Can it be frozen? I used frozen Lima beans and frozen corn but all other ingredients are fresh. I would like to freeze the rest in small containers so I can cook it quickly to add to meals in the future.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Yes, you can definitely freeze the leftovers in small containers. It should hold up well for future meals.
Very good, surprising what the addition of okra does to the beans and corn. Very well liked by my Homemakers club!
So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Love succotash!
Haven’t had it since I was a kid. One of those comforting memories, ya know? Thanks for the BLAST from the past! Can’t wait to try it.
I totally get that! Succotash has such a warm, nostalgic vibe. I hope it brings back all those comforting memories for you. Hope you enjoy it!
Stacey—-I just have to fix this and the sooner the better! I have some cans of shoepeg corn in my pantry. Would that work? 😍
I think it should certainly work in a pinch. Enjoy!
Is there a substitute for the Lima beans, by any chance ?
Lima beans really are the heart of classic succotash. But if you’re not a fan or just don’t have any, it’s totally fine to change it up. Edamame, butter beans (a milder lima bean), or even green peas might make decent substitutes. It might not be traditional, but it’ll still be tasty!
This was so delicious!
Thanks so much!!
It’s cooking on my stove now! I can’t wait.
That’s awesome! I hope it turns out great. Let me know how you like it!
so glad i found you, I need you in my life.
Flavours have been spot on. thanks
Welcome! I’m glad you made it here, too!
Loved the sound of this recipe. Except I don’t like Lima beans so I added black eyed peas. Also added this recipe with one I had that was made as a cold salad which you add the black eye peas or black beans, rinsed and drained plus 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro and keep all veggies cold. Okra was not in the cold recipe but would be good if slightly cooked, maybe? Just saying, haven’t tried it yet. The cold recipe had a Creamy Cilantro Dressing with it.
1/4 c raw unsalted sunflower seeds
3 Tbsp lemon juice(1 Lg lemon)
1/4 c loosely packed cilantro leaves
2 Small cloves garlic
1/4 tap sea salt
1/3 c water
Add to a blender. Blend on high until creamy and smooth. Taste and adjust as needed.
I really enjoy your recipes and learn from a lot of them.
Have a safe, blessed and Happy New Year!
This sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
Made this tonight for dinner. My son and I both agreed, it was incredible.
Can’t wait to try other recipes.
So glad you both enjoyed it!
Sooooo doggone DELICIOUS!!!! For me, anything with limas is a good thing. Well, this is so over the top grand I can’t even describe it! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!!!!
Oh Kathy! Thanks so much!
Once you have tried it you will always want it is so delicious your family will ask for seconds
Thanks, Katrina! Couldn’t agree more!
I just made this recipe and have mercy! It is delicious!
Oh I’m so glad you liked it!
Sufferin’ Succ!otash! This recipe sounds great! Thanks for the specifics. I’ve always just kinda thrown it all together. Can’t wait to try a true recipe of it.
SH
Let me know how you like it!
The cream of the crop…..yummmmm
It’s so good!
Looks sounds delicious going be making this dish this week I will let you know how much my family enjoyed it
I hope they LOVE it!
Wow, this recipe looks amazing Stacey! I love okra and everything else that’s in this dish.
Super yummy!
I’ve always kind of shuddered at the thought of succotash, but as I read through the recipe I have to admit, it sounds pretty doggone good! I’ve saved it to give it a try!
Thanks Catherine!