Gigantes Glory: Greek Baked Giant Beans with Feta 🫘🧀
Picture this: you stroll through a seaside taverna, the smell of oregano and sizzling cheese smacking you in the face (in a good way). You nab a clay dish bubbling with saucy, giant beans—a.k.a. Gigantes Plaki—topped with salty feta snow. Yeah, we’re recreating that vibe in your kitchen, no passport required. 🙂
⚡ Quick Snapshot
- Hands-on time: 15 min prep, 1 hr bake—Netflix handles the wait.
- Flavor profile: Herby tomato hug + creamy beans + briny feta crumble.
- Star players: Butter beans (gigantes), crushed tomatoes, feta, fresh dill.
- Diet creds: Naturally vegetarian, fiber powerhouse, gluten-free.
- When to serve: Weeknight comfort, potluck hero, meal-prep champ.
🛒 Ingredient Lineup
| Item | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dried giant butter beans (gigantes) OR canned large lima beans | Protein base, creamy texture | 2 cups dried (soaked) / 3 cans drained |
| Olive oil | Mediterranean magic, sauté power | 3 Tbsp |
| Yellow onion, diced | Sweet depth | 1 large |
| Garlic cloves, minced | Punchy aroma | 4 |
| Crushed tomatoes | Saucy blanket | 2 cups |
| Tomato paste | Extra umami | 1 Tbsp |
| Oregano + thyme (dried) | Classic Greek herbs | 1 tsp each |
| Smoked paprika | Subtle heat, color pop | ½ tsp |
| Vegetable broth | Keeps beans juicy | 1 cup |
| Feta, crumbled | Salty topper | ½ cup (or go wild) |
| Fresh dill, chopped | Bright finish | ¼ cup |
| Salt & pepper | Flavor police | To taste |
| Optional extras | Lemon zest, chili flakes, spinach | Your call |
Pro tip: If you forgot to soak dried beans (been there), use canned. Just rinse them like they owe you money.
🔥 Oven Game Plan
1️⃣ Sauté the Aromatics
Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium. Toss in onion, let it sweat till translucent (5 min). Add garlic and tomato paste; stir until everything smells like “vacation in Santorini.”
2️⃣ Build the Sauce
Pour in crushed tomatoes, broth, oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, plus a bold pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Taste—add more herbs if you crave a bigger Greek hug.
3️⃣ Bean Time
Stir soaked & drained gigantes (or canned limas) into the sauce. Make sure beans bathe evenly.
4️⃣ Bake to Bubbling Bliss
Slide the uncovered pot into a preheated 375 °F / 190 °C oven. Bake 45–60 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the top caramelizes around the edges. Your kitchen now smells like grandma’s secret recipe—don’t drool on the oven door.
5️⃣ Finish & Serve
Yank the pot out, scatter feta crumble and fresh dill like confetti. Squeeze optional lemon zest for zing. Serve with crusty bread to swipe every last bit—because wasting sauce should be illegal. 😉
🎨 Remix Ideas
- Spicy Spartan: Shake in chili flakes before baking for a mild burn.
- Green Goddess: Fold in two cups of baby spinach during the final 10 minutes—extra iron, zero taste clash.
- Protein Power-Up: Top with a fried egg; the runny yolk merges with feta for a creamy bonus.
- Vegan Twist: Swap feta for cashew “cheese” crumbles; flavors still slap.
💪 Health Perks (No Snoozy Science)
- Fiber Freight Train: Giant beans pack ~12 g fiber per cup—your gut does a happy dance.
- Plant Protein Punch: You score ~15 g protein per serving without touching meat.
- Heart-Lovin’ Fats: Olive oil + beans team up to keep cholesterol drama low.
- Antioxidant Alley: Tomatoes + dill sling free-radical blockers like it’s their side hustle.
❓ Rapid-Fire FAQ
Can I use a slow cooker?
Yep. Dump everything (except feta, dill) into the crock, cook on low 6–7 hrs. Finish with toppings.
Dried vs. canned beans—taste difference?
Dried beans win on texture and soak up flavor better, but canned absolutely work when time punches you in the face.
How long does it keep?
Fridge: 4 days. Freezer: 3 months. The flavors deepen, so day-2 leftovers taste even louder.
🔥 The Last Bite
Greek Baked Giant Beans give you comfort food vibes without a food-coma price tag. You get creamy legumes, herby tomato love, and melty feta fireworks in every bite. So quit doom-scrolling recipe sites—this is your next dinner flex. Cook it, post it, tag your jealous friends, and thank yourself later. 😉
