Gigantes Plaki (Greek Baked Giant Beans in Tomato Sauce)
Local name: Γίγαντες Πλακί
In short: Giant white beans baked in a thick tomato, herb and olive oil sauce until creamy, a Greek meze and Lenten main. It takes about 2 h 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 2 h
- Resting
- 12 h 15 min
- Total
- 2 h 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Gigantes plaki are giant white beans baked in a thick sauce of tomato, onion and herbs until they turn creamy and the top caramelizes. The dish is a Lenten staple and a standard meze, eaten warm or at room temperature with bread. Dried beans give the best texture. The oven does most of the work after a long soak and a gentle boil.
Instructions
- Soak the beans in plenty of cold water for 8 to 12 hours. Drain, cover with fresh water, bring to a boil and simmer gently for 45 to 60 minutes until nearly tender but not mushy. Drain.
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Cook the onions in 3 tablespoons of the oil for 10 minutes until soft. Add the garlic, carrot and celery and cook 3 minutes, then stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes, hot water, oregano, paprika, bay, sugar and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Fold in the beans and the salt. Pour everything into a large baking dish, so the sauce just covers the beans, and drizzle with the remaining oil.
- Bake uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring once, until the beans are creamy, the sauce is thick and the edges are caramelized.
- Stir in the parsley, dill and vinegar. Rest for 15 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature with bread.
Tips
- Salt the beans only once they are boiled and in the sauce. Salting the soaking or boiling water makes the skins tough.
- In a hurry, use three 400 g (14 oz) cans of large butter beans, drained and rinsed. Skip the soak and boil and bake for 30 minutes.
Questions and answers
Can I use canned beans?
Yes. Use three 400 g (14 oz) cans of large butter beans, drained and rinsed, and bake for 30 minutes. The texture is less creamy than with dried beans.
Do I need to soak the beans?
Yes. Soak dried gigantes for 8 to 12 hours so they cook evenly and keep their skins.
How long do gigantes plaki keep?
Up to 5 days in the fridge, and they taste better after a day. They also freeze for up to 3 months.
How long does it take to make Gigantes Plaki (Greek Baked Giant Beans in Tomato Sauce)?
About 2 h 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 2 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Gigantes Plaki (Greek Baked Giant Beans in Tomato Sauce)?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 17 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 14 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 640 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
