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Greek Giant Beans -  Gigantes plaki
5 from 46 votes

Greek Giant Beans -  Gigantes plaki

Greek Gigantes Plaki features large soaked beans baked with sausage, onions, garlic, carrots, San Marzano tomatoes, and herbs in a flavorful broth. The dish is long-roasted until beans are tender and topped with melted graviera cheese. It balances savory meat, tender beans, and rich tomato-based sauce, served garnished with fresh parsley and olive oil.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Additional Time
10 hrs
Servings: 8
Calories: 412 kcal
Cuisine: Greek

Ingredients

  • 18 oz gigantes beans soaked in water overnight
  • 10 oz sausage cut it into bite-size pieces
  • ⅓ cup olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 large onion roughly chopped
  • 3 garlic sliced, cloves
  • 1 carrot cut in 1/3 inch pieces, large
  • 14 oz San Marzano Tomatoes crushed
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon oregano dried
  • ⅓ bunch parsley roughly chopped
  • 8 oz graviera cheese or gruyere
  • 2 cups broth total. Veggie, chicken or beef broth
  • salt sea salt
  • black pepper freshly ground
for serving
  • parsley chopped, fresh
  • olive oil for drizzling

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place the presoaked beans in a pot with plenty of water and boil for about one hour, until they are almost soft, skimming the foam forming at the top as needed. 
  2. Drain the beans and add them to a roasting pan.
  3. Heat the oven to 380°F/190°C
  4. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the sausage. In high heat, brown the sausage for 1-2 minutes. Transfer the sausage to the pan with the beans. 
  5. In the same skillet add olive oil and the onions and garlic. Season with sea salt and saute until translucent.
  6. Add the carrots, celery, dried oregano, and tomato paste, and saute for 1-2 minutes.
  7. Transfer the veggies to the roasting pan with the beans and sausages. Add the chopped tomatoes, one cup broth, pepper, salt and toss. 
  8. Roast covered for one hour or until beans are soft.
  9. Halfway, check the beans. Add some hot broth if you feel they need more liquid but don't overdo it. 
  10. Uncover and sprinkle the cubed graviera cheese on top. Roast uncovered for 20 more minutes. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Use fresh, non-yellow gigantes beans to ensure proper cooking time; older beans take longer and cook unevenly.
  • Dried lima or Great Northern beans can be used as alternatives.
  • Adding baking soda to soaking water softens beans but reduces some nutrients.
  • Slow cooking is preferable to high heat to avoid beans being hard inside.
  • If adding liquid during roasting, use hot broth to keep cooking temperature stable.
  • Use quality canned tomatoes; adding sugar can balance acidity if not using San Marzano DOP tomatoes.

Nutrition Information

Calories 412kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 21g (7%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g (18%) Monounsaturated Fat 14g (70%) Trans Fat 0.1g (5%) Cholesterol 57mg (19%) Sodium 690mg (29%) Potassium 566mg (12%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 1936IU (39%) Vitamin C 6mg (7%) Calcium 370mg (37%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 412

% Daily Value*

Calories 412kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 14g 70%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 57mg 19%
Sodium 690mg 29%
Potassium 566mg 12%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 1936IU 39%
Vitamin C 6mg 7%
Calcium 370mg 37%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.