Hearty Baked Butter Beans in Rich Tomato Sauce
A classic Greek dish featuring large butter beans baked until tender in a flavorful tomato and herb sauce, perfect as a main or side.
- Prep10 min
- Cook2h
- Total2h 10m
- DifficultyMedium
- Servings6
Gigantes Plaki is a beloved Greek dish that showcases the humble butter bean in a starring role. These large, creamy beans are slow-baked in a rich, aromatic tomato sauce, infused with herbs and vegetables, creating a comforting and deeply satisfying meal.
This recipe brings the authentic taste of Greek home cooking to your kitchen. It's a wonderfully versatile dish, hearty enough to be a main course, especially when served with crusty bread and feta, or it can be a delightful side dish to grilled meats or fish.
Ingredients
Servings
Converted amounts are rounded.
Method
- Soak the dry butter beans in a large pot, covered with about 4 cm of room-temperature water, and leave them to soak overnight.
- Drain the soaked beans and return them to the pot. Add 2 liters of hot water or stock and season generously with coarse sea salt.
- Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the beans, covered, for 40 minutes to 1 hour, or until they are tender.
- While the beans are simmering, preheat your oven to 400°F.
- In a separate sauté pan, heat a splash of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced onion and chopped garlic and sauté until softened and translucent.
- Stir in the chopped fresh tomato (or canned diced tomatoes) and tomato paste. Season with salt and cook for 1-2 minutes until the mixture looks thick and well combined.
- Add the sliced carrots and celery to the pan and stir for a minute.
- Pour in the tomato passata, bay leaf, sweet paprika, oregano, parsley, dill, and freshly ground pepper. Add the 60ml of extra virgin olive oil.
- Add 2 cups (500 ml) of hot water to the sauce and cook over low heat, uncovered, until it thickens slightly.
- Once the beans are tender, carefully transfer them and their cooking liquid to a large baking dish or pan.
- Pour the prepared tomato sauce over the beans and gently shake the dish to distribute everything evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened. Stir the beans once or twice during baking.
- Remove from the oven and let the Gigantes Plaki rest for 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the beans to absorb more of the delicious sauce.
- Serve warm, garnished with a piece of feta cheese and a side of Kalamata olives.
💡 Tips
- For quicker soaking, you can boil the beans for 2 minutes, then let them sit in the hot water for 1 hour before draining and proceeding with the recipe.
- Ensure the beans are tender before transferring them to the baking dish. If they are still firm, continue simmering them until they reach the desired tenderness.
- Gigantes Plaki tastes even better the next day, making it an excellent make-ahead dish for gatherings.
Inspired by a recipe from Real Greek Recipes