16 Complete Protein Pairings with Lima Beans

Summary:

• Lima bean contains a moderate amount of protein - about 10.7 grams per cup.
• However, lima bean provides only 8 of the 9 essential amino acids sufficiently - it is a little low on methionine.^[1]
• Lima bean pairs well with brazil nut, pili nut, chia seeds, sesame seeds or wild rice to create a complete protein profile. ^[2] More lima bean pairings and detailed analysis below.

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• Summary
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• Pairings with Lima Beans (16)

A complete protein is a protein source that "contains adequate proportions of the nine essential amino acids" that our body can not produce on its own.

A decent source of supplementary protein, a single cup of lima beans contains 10.7 grams of protein, or about 21% of recommended daily values. ^[1]

To get the adequate amount of protein with lima beans alone, you will need 4.7 cups of lima beans (730 grams) for an average female, or 5.6 cups of lima beans for males. ^[4] That's about 826 calories.

Full nutritional profile for lima beans
USDA Source: Lima beans, immature seeds, raw

Macronutrients in 1 cup (156g) of lima beans:

Proportionally, lima bean does contain abundant amounts of 8 out of the nine essential amino acids. However, lima bean is a little short on methionine.^[1]

To have adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids with lima bean alone, you will have to eat 8.1 cups of lima beans (1265 grams) for an average person. ^[2]

That's about 73% more lima bean to compensate for the lack of methionine, compared to the protein requirement alone.

The amount of each essential amino acid in 1 cup (156g) of lima beans:

1. Brazil Nut
2. Pili Nut
3. Chia Seeds
4. Sesame Seeds
5. Wild Rice
6. Hemp Seeds
7. Poppy Seeds
8. Hedge Mustard Seeds
9. Nori
10. Chestnut
11. White Rice
12. Cornmeal

1. Mayonnaise
2. Sour Cream
3. Caramel
4. Egg

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, brazil nut is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.6 cup of lima beans (92g) and 1.5 teaspoons of brazil nut (4g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.05 to 1:0.09 for lima bean to brazil nut by weight.

Full nutritional profile for brazil nut
USDA Source: Nuts, brazilnuts, dried, unblanched

Pili nut is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.5 cup of lima beans (78g) and 2 tablespoons of pili nut (15g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.19 to 1:0.6 for lima bean to pili nut by weight.

Full nutritional profile for pili nut
USDA Source: Nuts, pilinuts, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, chia seed is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.5 cup of lima beans (78g) and 0.4 ounce of chia seeds (10g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.13:1 of chia seed to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for chia seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, chia seeds, dried

Sesame seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.5 cup of lima beans (78g) and 1.2 tablespoons of sesame seeds (11g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.15 to 1:3 for lima bean to sesame seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for sesame seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, roasted and toasted

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, wild rice is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.5 cup of lima beans (74g) and 0.3 cup of wild rice (56g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.8 to 1:23 for lima bean to wild rice by weight.

Full nutritional profile for wild rice
USDA Source: Wild rice, cooked

Hemp seed is a great source of protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.5 cup of lima beans (74g) and 0.7 tablespoon of hemp seeds (7g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.1 to 1:3 for lima bean to hemp seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for hemp seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, hemp seed, hulled

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, poppy seed is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.5 cup of lima beans (71g) and 5 teaspoons of poppy seeds (14g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.2:1 of poppy seed to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for poppy seeds
USDA Source: Spices, poppy seed

Hedge mustard seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.4 cup of lima beans (62g) and 0.3 cup of hedge mustard seeds (22g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.36:1 of hedge mustard seed to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for hedge mustard seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, sisymbrium sp. seeds, whole, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, nori is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.4 cup of lima beans (65g) and 20 sheets of nori (52g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.8:1 of nori to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for nori
USDA Source: Seaweed, laver, raw

Chestnut is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.4 cup of lima beans (65g) and 0.8 cup of chestnut (111g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 1.7:1 of chestnut to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for chestnut
USDA Source: Nuts, chestnuts, european, roasted

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, white rice is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.4 cup of lima beans (62g) and 0.8 cup of white rice (146g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:2.3 to 1:33 for lima bean to white rice by weight.

Full nutritional profile for white rice
USDA Source: Rice, white, medium-grain, enriched, cooked

Cornmeal is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.4 cup of lima beans (65g) and 0.3 cup of cornmeal (37g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.6 to 1:1.8 for lima bean to cornmeal by weight.

Full nutritional profile for cornmeal
USDA Source: Cornmeal, yellow (Navajo)

Low in protein, mayonnaise is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.5 cup of lima beans (74g) and 0.7 cup of mayonnaise (158g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 2.1:1 of mayonnaise to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for mayonnaise
USDA Source: Salad dressing, mayonnaise, regular

Sour cream is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.4 cup of lima beans (68g) and 0.4 cup of sour cream (73g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 1.1:1 of sour cream to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for sour cream
USDA Source: Cream, sour, cultured

Low in protein, caramel is high in methionine, which is complementary to lima bean.

A ratio of 0.4 cup of lima beans (65g) and 0.5 cup of caramel (154g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:2.4 to 1:18 for lima bean to caramel by weight.

Full nutritional profile for caramel
USDA Source: Toppings, butterscotch or caramel

Egg is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in methionine, complementing the profile of lima bean.

For example, 0.5 cup of lima beans (71g) and 0.3 egg (17g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.23:1 of egg to lima bean will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for egg
USDA Source: Egg, whole, raw, fresh