gigantes plaki (greek baked beans)

Florala, AL
Updated on Oct 14, 2012

Before we moved south I could take or leave a dried lima bean. I have acquired a taste for them and when I saw this recipe in magazine I knew I would have to make them for one of our 'meatless' nights. My friend Anna who is from Greece says she grew up eating this dish several times a month especially when times were lean.

prep time
cook time
method Bake
yield 4 serving(s)

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried gigantes, butter beans, elephant beans or large lima beans
  • 3 - bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 2 - celery ribs, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • - red pepper flakes to taste
  • 1 quart diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • - kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup dill, chopped

How To Make gigantes plaki (greek baked beans)

  • Step 1
    Soak the dried gigantes beans in water with the bay leaves over night. Bring the water to a boil and simmer until the beans are tender, about 30-40 minutes.
  • Step 2
    Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onions, carrot and celery and cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes. Add the garlic and chili pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
  • Step 3
    Add the tomatoes, paprika and oregano and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Season the tomato sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Mix the parsley, dill, beans and 1/2 cup of the liquid that the beans were cooked in into the tomato sauce.
  • Step 4
    Pour the mixture into a casserole dish. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until the top is browned and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 50-60 minutes.

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