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Gigantes-Plaki
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4.07 from 201 votes

Greek Butter Beans Recipe (Gigantes Plaki)

These butter beans are cooked on the stovetop until very tender. Then finished off in the oven together with a hearty and thick tomato sauce!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Keyword: Dinner, legumes, Oven baked
Servings: 5
Calories: 446kcal

Ingredients

  • 500 grams /17.6 oz dry butter beans (Lima beans)
  • 12 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 small onion minced
  • 2 small carrots cut in slices
  • 2-3 large garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 stick of celery without the leaves finely chopped
  • 1 large ripe tomato finely chopped or 150 grams canned diced tomatoes
  • 65 grams / 2.2 oz tomato paste
  • ⅔ teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano or dry instead
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped dill
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions

Soaking the beans the night before:

  • Fill a large cooking pot with tepid water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and add the butter beans. Let them soak overnight.

Cooking Method:

  • Drain butter beans in a strainer.
  • In a large cooking pot add 3 liters of water and the butter beans. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 2 hours or until butter beans are completely soft.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add the carrots and celery. Cook for 2 minutes more. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute stirring with a wooden spoon for the paste to caramelize.
  • Add the fresh or diced tomatoes, fresh herbs, and/or dried oregano, and sweet paprika. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes stirring with a wooden spoon.
  • Transfer the mixture to the pot with the butter beans. Add the bay leaf and remaining olive oil.
  • Raise the heat and cook for approximately 10 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken slightly.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C.
  • Transfer the contents of the pot to a large baking pan (about the size of the oven's tray pan) and bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the sauce is thickened.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Sodium: 123mg | Potassium: 832mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4124IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 3mg