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Home » Recipes » Sides

Summer Succotash

Stacey – May 10, 2022 – 20 Comments

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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!

Close-up of Summer Succotash

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.

Overhead view of Summer Succotash in pan

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.

Spoonful of Summer Succotash

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.

Close-Up of Summer Succotash

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!

Summer Succotash on a blue plate

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.

Summer Succotash on a blue plate
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5 from 7 votes

Recipe Card

Summer Succotash

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, southern
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Author Stacey Little | Southern Bite

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 1/2 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 1 (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.
Summer Succotash on a blue plate
Did you make my Summer Succotash?I’d love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @southernbite, and use the hashtag #southernbite!
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  1. Sheila

    December 28, 2022 at 2:41 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      December 29, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      This sounds great! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  2. Nancy

    August 21, 2022 at 11:02 pm

    Made this tonight for dinner. My son and I both agreed, it was incredible.
    Can’t wait to try other recipes.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 22, 2022 at 8:35 am

      So glad you both enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Kathy

    August 4, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    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!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 5, 2022 at 11:24 am

      Oh Kathy! Thanks so much!

      Reply
  4. Katrina

    May 24, 2022 at 9:53 am

    Once you have tried it you will always want it is so delicious your family will ask for seconds

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 26, 2022 at 2:58 pm

      Thanks, Katrina! Couldn’t agree more!

      Reply
  5. Tina

    May 15, 2022 at 11:27 am

    I just made this recipe and have mercy! It is delicious!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 17, 2022 at 8:15 am

      Oh I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply
  6. Susan W Hines

    May 12, 2022 at 7:13 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 13, 2022 at 8:50 am

      Let me know how you like it!

      Reply
  7. LindY G

    May 10, 2022 at 5:27 pm

    The cream of the crop…..yummmmm

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 11, 2022 at 11:50 am

      It’s so good!

      Reply
  8. Katrina

    May 10, 2022 at 4:12 pm

    Looks sounds delicious going be making this dish this week I will let you know how much my family enjoyed it

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 11, 2022 at 11:49 am

      I hope they LOVE it!

      Reply
  9. Aileen

    May 10, 2022 at 3:59 pm

    Wow, this recipe looks amazing Stacey! I love okra and everything else that’s in this dish.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 11, 2022 at 11:49 am

      Super yummy!

      Reply
  10. Catherine Keller

    May 10, 2022 at 3:42 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 11, 2022 at 11:49 am

      Thanks Catherine!

      Reply

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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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About Cookbook Shop Contact
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