Succotash

Succotash is a North American vegetable dish made primarily from corn and lima beans or other shell beans.

Succotash is a North American vegetable dish made primarily from corn and lima beans or other shell beans. Its name comes from a Narragansett word meaning “broken corn kernels,” and the dish has many regional variations, especially in the United States.

Origin and name

The word succotash comes from a Narragansett term, usually glossed as referring to broken or boiled corn kernels. English spellings of the word were recorded in the mid-18th century.

Ingredients and preparation

The basic dish combines corn with lima beans or other shell beans. Many versions add vegetables, pork, or other seasonings, and some recipes are served with butter, cream, or bacon.

Regional variations

Succotash is most strongly associated with American cooking, but its ingredients and definition vary by region. In some Southern U.S. usage, the term may refer more generally to mixed vegetables with lima beans.

Cultural significance

Succotash appears in discussions of Indigenous foodways and historical North American cooking. It is also sometimes treated as a traditional holiday or seasonal side dish in parts of the United States.