Make Ahead

Gigantes

February  2, 2015
5
2 Ratings
  • Serves 10
Author Notes

I've always loved this Greek meze, and recently had a wonderful version similar to this in San Francisco. The gigantes bean (pronounced yee-gahn-tes) has been grown in the Kastoria region of Greece since the 17th century. Like California has the American Viticultural Area (AVA) wine-growing regions, the gigantes has a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) - that's one important bean! Serve with bread and a salad for a main dish. For a vegan version, simply omit the feta. —Vegetarianized.com

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Ingredients
  • 1 pound dried gigantes or lima beans
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 carrots, chopped
  • 3 celery, chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped fine
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped fine
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped fine
  • 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
Directions
  1. Soak beans in broth overnight. Do not drain.
  2. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic, and sauté 5-7 minutes, until soft.
  3. Add beans with broth, tomatoes, oregano, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees. Add bean mixture to a 9" x 13" casserole dish (it'll be liquidy), and bake for one hour.
  5. Spoon beans and sauce into a bowl. Sprinkle parsley and feta over top.
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4 Reviews

Vegetarianized.com February 22, 2015
Thanks, Yvonne! Please let me know how it turns out...
virginia M. September 22, 2021
Hi ... making these right now....in the oven covered or uncovered?
at Y. February 22, 2015
This looks delicious.....will be making this week.
dymnyno February 13, 2015
Interesting! I submitted Gigante Bean Meze which is a different version of this. I live just up the road in Calistoga.