From thekitchn.com: “Lima beans are more than just related to butter beans, they are the same thing.” According to Food52: “In the Southern U.S. and in the U.K., these cream-colored beans are named after the dairy product with a similarly rich consistency: butter.

Is a lima bean a vegetable?

Botanically speaking, tomatoes, peas, and lima beans are categorized as fruits, but due to their savory flavors are historically used as vegetables in main meals other than dessert.

Why is it called lima bean?

The Lima Bean Story

A favorite in the American South, limas are actually named after the capital of Peru, and they have more nicknames than any other bean: butter bean, Rangoon bean, Burma bean, Madagascar bean, and chad bean. Like common beans, they originated in Peru where they were cultivated even before corn.