1. In a small saucepan, bring 3 1/2 cups of water to a boil.
2. Add the oil to a medium stockpot set over medium-low heat.
3. Cook the onions in the oil for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are tender and golden brown, adding 1 cup of boiling water at a time and stirring often.
4. Pour in the lima beans, then cook for another 10 minutes, or until the lima beans begin to soften.
5. Add the remaining boiling water, along with the sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook, partially covered, for about 40 minutes, or until the lima beans are soft.
6. To make creamy, gently mash one-third of the tender beans with the back of a wooden spoon.
7. Serve your lima beans, ensuring that they are still warm.

This recipe yields deliciously cooked fresh lima beans, so you should definitely try it out. The recipe takes a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes, including an active cook time of 25 minutes. Take a look at this video recipe if you’d like more ideas on how to cook fresh lima beans.