Best 5 Gigantes Recipes
**Gigantes Plaki: A Culinary Journey to the Heart of Greek Cuisine**
Gigantes Plaki, a traditional Greek dish, is a symphony of flavors that captures the essence of Mediterranean cuisine. This hearty and comforting dish features giant beans, also known as elephant beans or butter beans, slow-cooked in a rich tomato sauce infused with aromatic herbs and spices. The beans, plump and tender, soak up the savory broth, creating a delectable and satisfying meal that is perfect for any occasion.
There are several variations of Gigantes Plaki, each with its unique blend of ingredients and cooking techniques. Some recipes call for the addition of vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions, while others incorporate feta cheese or olives to enhance the flavors. Whether you prefer a simple and classic version or a more elaborate one, you'll find a recipe in this article that suits your taste and preferences.
Our collection of Gigantes Plaki recipes includes:
* **Classic Gigantes Plaki:** This recipe takes you back to the roots of this traditional dish, featuring giant beans simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce with onions, garlic, and herbs.
* **Gigantes Plaki with Vegetables:** This variation adds a medley of colorful vegetables, including carrots, celery, and onions, to the classic recipe, creating a hearty and nutritious meal.
* **Gigantes Plaki with Feta Cheese:** The addition of creamy feta cheese adds a tangy and salty dimension to this dish, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.
* **Gigantes Plaki with Olives:** This recipe incorporates briny and savory olives, adding a distinct Mediterranean touch to the Gigantes Plaki.
* **Vegan Gigantes Plaki:** For those following a plant-based diet, this recipe offers a delicious and satisfying vegan version of Gigantes Plaki, using vegetable broth instead of meat-based stock.
Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner looking to explore the vibrant flavors of Greek cuisine, our curated collection of Gigantes Plaki recipes will guide you in creating this delectable dish that is sure to impress your family and friends.
GIGANTES (GREEK LIMA BEANS)
This is a family recipe. In Greek, it's called 'Gigantes' which translates as 'Giants.' Try to find the largest dried lima beans possible. My aunt adds small canned sausages, but I prefer this meatless. Serve with feta cheese and a crusty bread. You can also substitute 2 teaspoons parsley for the dill if you prefer.
Provided by stamarex
Categories Side Dish Beans and Peas Baked Bean Recipes
Time 10h
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place the lima beans in a large saucepan. Pour enough water to fill to 2 inches above top of the beans. Allow to soak overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Place the saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes; drain. Pour the beans into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Add the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, and dill; stir.
- Bake in preheated oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding water if the mixture appears dry.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 448.7 calories, Carbohydrate 40.4 g, Fat 27.5 g, Fiber 11.8 g, Protein 13 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 171 mg, Sugar 7.4 g
GIGANTES
Steps:
- Add the beans to a pot with enough cold water to cover well. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until just soft throughout but not quite cooked, approximately 50 to 80 minutes, depending on the beans. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Add onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and their liquid, 2 cups water, honey, cloves, salt, and pepper and boil gently for 20 to 30 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Stir in the parsley and remove from heat.
- Place the beans in an oven-proof dish, pour tomato mixture on top, stir and spread mixture out evenly. Bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until beans are soft. (Check the dish during cooking and if needed, add a small amount of boiling water.) The dish will look crispy on top. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot or at room temperature.
GIGANTES (GREEK GIANT BAKED BEANS)
Butter Beans are most similar to our 'gigantes' (giants). If any of you have access to an ethnic Greek grocery, go and get the real thing - you'll love them!
Provided by evelynathens
Categories Beans
Time 2h30m
Yield 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cook the pre-soaked beans in a pressure cooker, with enough water to cover by one inch, for 20 minutes and allow to sit, undisturbed, for 2-3 hours before proceeding with recipe.
- Tip the beans into a large baking pan.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients, except the dill, and stir well to distribute.
- Pour over enough hot water to cover beans by 1".
- Place pan in oven and set oven to 400°F.
- Bake for 2 hours. Check, if you like your beans more tender, cook them a half hour longer.
- Stir dill in for last 15 minutes of baking.
- There will still be plenty of juices in the pan, but these will be absorbed by the beans and thicken as the beans cool.
- Like nearly all bean recipes, these only improve the next day, and the day after next.
- In Greece, these beans would constitute the main, 'vegetarian' meal and would not include the bacon, which is my own addition. We often eat meatless, especially when we're fasting. With or without the bacon or sausage, this is good eating, especially with a big chunk of sharp feta cheese on the side to nibble on between bites of beans and slurps of sauce and some good, honest, crusty bread to clean your plate up with. :-).
STYRIAN "GIGANTES" (SCARLET RUNNER BEAN CASSEROLE)
This is a styrian version (Styria, Province of Austria) of a hearty, simple and vegan Greek Bean dish, that tastes heavenly and uses "Käferbohnen" (Scarlet runner beans) instead of white giant beans. If you can't get hold of Scarlet Runner Beans use giant beans instead. The original recipe calls for about 200ml olive oil, i cut that lavish amount in half, and still find it's enough oil left :). Prep.time comes without beansoaking time!
Provided by Eismeer
Categories Beans
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- If using dried beans, soak them overnight and cook according to package instructions (usually for 90min.).
- Cut onion in about 0,5cm pieces, mince garlic, peel and seed tomatoes (put in boiling water for about 30sec.) and chop into bite size pieces.
- Heat olive oil and add onion and garlic. Let fry until translucent.
- Add beans and tomatoes. Stir.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer to baking dish and let bake for about 20-25 minute at 175°C (until the beans go lightly crispy).
- Enjoy with white bread, such as baguette, ciabatta or pita. The oil onion mixture tastes heavenly when dipped into.
FASSOLIA GIGANTES PLAKI (GIANT BEANS BAKED IN THE OVEN)
Make and share this Fassolia Gigantes Plaki (Giant Beans Baked in the Oven) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by _Pixie_
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Pick the beans clean from stones and grit and soak them in cold water overnight.
- Drain and rinse them in a colander, put into a large saucepan or a pressure cooker, cover with plenty of cold water and boil them until they are cooked but still a little hard.
- This type of bean cooks quickly, so be aware until you get used to them.
- They take hardly 2 minutes in a pressure cooker and about 30-40 minutes otherwise.
- If they get overcooked, they get mushy and soggy and they do not taste at their best.
- This first step then is also the most important in this recipe.
- Drain the beans through a colander and keep aside.
- In the same saucepan, heat the olive oil and fry the onions, the garlic and the dried herbs, until they start turning pale golden.
- Add the tomatoes with all the juice from the cans or, if fresh tomatoes are used, add 150 ml water.
- Then add the tomato puree and sugar, break up the mixture with a fork, season with salt and pepper, cover and cook for 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
- Mix the parsley into the tomato sauce, add the beans and mix well.
- Spread the beans in an oven dish.
- Sprinkle a little oregano and black pepper on the top and cook in a pre-heated oven at 350 grades F/ 80 grades C, for 30 minutes, without stirring, until they look slightly crisp on top and quite dry.
- Alternatively, add the beans to the tomato sauce, mix well, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Tips:
- Soak the beans overnight: This will help to reduce the cooking time and make the beans more tender.
- Use a pressure cooker: This is the quickest way to cook gigantes beans. If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can also cook them in a slow cooker or on the stovetop.
- Add plenty of flavorings: Gigantes beans have a mild flavor, so it's important to add plenty of flavorings when you cook them. Some good options include garlic, onion, tomato, oregano, and bay leaves.
- Don't overcook the beans: Gigantes beans are best when they are cooked until they are tender but still have a slight bite to them. Overcooked beans will be mushy and bland.
- Serve gigantes beans with a variety of sides: Gigantes beans are a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides. Some good options include rice, pasta, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad.
Conclusion:
Gigantes beans are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals. They are also relatively easy to cook, especially if you use a pressure cooker. With a little planning, you can enjoy delicious gigantes beans in no time.
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