4.9 from 147 votes
Oven-Baked Greek Giant Beans (Gigantes Plaki)
Oven-Baked Greek Giant Beans (Gigantes Plaki) are large white beans simmered until tender, then baked with a mixture of caramelized onions, garlic, red peppers, celery, carrots, crushed tomatoes, dill, and olive oil. The slow baking softens the beans fully, resulting in a hearty, flavorful dish with a rich tomato-based sauce and aromatic herbs, emblematic of traditional Greek cooking.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 50 mins
Total Time
2 hrs
Servings:
5
servings
Course:
Side Dish, Dinner
Cuisine:
Greek
Ingredients
- 500 gr giant beans
- 1 onion large; thinly sliced vertically
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 800 gr crushed tomatoes
- 2 red bell pepper cut into thin slices
- 1 celery stick; chopped
- 2 carrot thinly sliced vertically
- ½ dill bunch; chopped
- 200 ml olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Soak the beans overnight in a large bowl with enough cold water.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/356° F with the fan on.
- Strain the beans and place them in a deep pot. Cover with water and simmer for 40-50 minutes, or until the beans are soft, skimming at regular intervals.
- Strain the beans, retaining 200 ml (~1 cup) of the water.
- Pour half the olive oil into a small frying pan and heat over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, red peppers, celery, and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes until they caramelize.
- Place the giant beans in a heatproof dish. Add the vegetables, tomatoes, the remaining olive oil, the retained water, dill, and season with salt and pepper on top.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the beans are mushy and well-cooked.
- Serve the beans hot, straight from the oven.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Add 1/4 cup of baking soda to soaking water to speed up the softening of giant beans.
- Soak beans overnight before cooking for best texture.
- Simmer beans separately until soft before combining with vegetables and baking.