Succotash with Bacon, Okra and Tomatoes

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

Succotash is a classic side dish from the American south. Made with corn, lima beans and other vegetables, this side dish is hearty and delicious. Popular 

My version of succotash is filled with lots of different ingredients. It all starts with some crispy bacon. Everything is better with bacon! Along with the bacon, corn and lima beans, I also add onions, sweet bell pepper, okra and a jalapeno. 

This side dish is so packed with stuff that it is basically a full meal.

For the longest time, I never knew of this tasty dish called succotash. For me the word was only memorable from the phrase ‘sufferin succotash‘, which was the classic line Sylvester the Cat used to say on Looney Tunes. 

The next time I heard the word was in a popular song in the early 90s. Groove is in the Heart by Dee Lite had the line ‘My supper dish, my succotash wish‘. I still smile when I hear that song. So unique and it just screamed the 90s!

I am so glad that I got the chance to try succotash because it is exactly the kind of side dish that I like.

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

I love using my cast iron skillet and over the years have discovered that sautéing corn in a skillet is delicious.

Here are some of my other recipes with corn in a skillet:

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

Just look at all these fresh and healthy ingredients. Classic succotash includes corn and lima beans, but over the years, there are many different variations including other vegetables. Personally, I like to add lots of stuff. The heartier it is, the better. 

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

Cut the kernels off the cob by placing the base of the ear on a cutting board and start the knife at the top cutting the kernels off as you work your way down. It is not that hard and after a couple cobs, you will get the hang of it.

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

Crisp up the diced bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Once the bacon is nice and crispy, remove them with a slotted spoon. Spread out the bacon pieces on a plate lined with a paper towel.

There will be a lot of bacon grease in the skillet. Remove most of the grease from the skillet, leaving around 3 tablespoons. This little bit of grease will be used to sauté the vegetables, so there is no need to add any oil or butter.

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

I have often heard people say they are not a big fan of lima beans because they find them hard. Frozen lima beans need to be cooked and simmered for a while so they can soften. Those bags of frozen mixed vegetables that have corn, peas, green beans, carrots and lima beans are often the culprit for peoples negative feelings. Lima beans need to be simmered longer than all the other veggies in the bag so the result is typically a hard bean.

I love lima beans and one of my favourite ways to cook them is this recipe: Lima Beans with Ham 

For the succotash, it is important to boil the beans for a bit in a saucepan with some water. Follow the directions on the package and if there are no instructions, then letting them simmer in boiling water for about 7 to 8 minutes should be fine. 

Once done, strain the lima beans and set aside for later.

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

Add the diced onion, orange pepper, jalapeño and sliced okra to the skillet and sauté. Stir regularly so nothing sticks to the bottom of the skillet. As you stir you may notice that the okra seems slimy. This is totally normal and as you cook it, the slime will disappear.

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

Mix in the corn, cooked lima beans, minced garlic, bacon and seasoning. Continue to cook until the corn is tender.

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

Once the corn is cooked through, stir in the halved grape tomatoes. Cook for only about a minute or two, just enough to warm the tomatoes. Remove from the heat and serve.

This is the perfect side dish for so many meals and it is truly some good old comfort food!

Succotash with Bacon, Okra and Tomatoes

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Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 4 ears corn on the cob
  • 6 strips bacon , diced
  • 1 pound frozen lima beans
  • 1 medium onion , diced
  • 1 orange pepper , diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper , seeded and diced finely
  • 2 cups okra , sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes , halved
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • Using a sharp knife, cut the kernels off the corn. Set side for later.
  • Brown bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Once the bacon peices are crisped up and rendered, remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain. Drain most over the grease out of the skillet, leaving about 3-4 tablespoons.
  • While the bacon is in the skillet, boil the lima beans in a saucepan for about 7-8 minutes or according to the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
  • Add the diced onion, orange pepper, jalapeno pepper and okra to the skillet. Saute, stirring often until they are tender, about 5 miuntes.
  • Stir in the fresh corn kernels, lima beans, cooked bacon, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium low and sauté until corn is tender, about 7-8 minutes.
  • Mix in the grape tomatoes and cook for only 1-2 minutes, just to heat.
  • Remove from heat and serve.

Nutrition

Per serving:

Calories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 12gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 588mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7g

Nutrition Disclaimer

Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

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Easy skillet recipe for how to make succotash with lima beans, bacon, corn, okra, grape tomatoes. Classic southern side dish comfort food.

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Recipe Rating




3 comments

  • 5 stars
    Very very delicious!

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Excellent

    • Reply

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