Best Gigantes Greek Lima Beans Recipes

Gigantes image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Time 4h5m

Yield 4-6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pound gigantes (or big lima beans), soaked for 12 hours, drained
1/4 cup Greek olive oil
1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15-ounce) can chopped plum tomatoes plus their liquid
2 cups water
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

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.

Gigante Beans image

Provided by Michael Symon

Yield Makes 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound dried gigante beans, dried lima beans, or dried Great Northern beans
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups chopped onions (about 2 medium)
3 garlic cloves, minced
8 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth
1 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes in juice (preferably San Marzano), tomatoes chopped, juice reserved
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup ouzo (Greek anise-flavored liqueur)
1 tablespoon dried oregano (preferably Greek)
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 cup chopped fresh dill
Ingredient info: Dried gigante beans are large cream-colored beans from the mediterranean. They're available at some specialty foods stores and online at titanfood.com. Ouzo is available at some liquor stores.

Steps:

Place beans in large bowl. Pour enough water over to cover beans by 3 inches; let soak overnight. Drain beans; set aside.
Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and garlic and sauté until onions are golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Add beans, 8 cups chicken broth, tomatoes with juice, vinegar, ouzo, oregano, and crushed red pepper to pot; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until beans are tender, adding more broth by cupfuls to keep beans submerged and stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 hours, depending on freshness of beans. If necessary, uncover and cook beans until tomato mixture thickens and liquid is slightly reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Season beans to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. DO AHEAD: beans can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm beans before continuing, adding more chicken broth by 1/2 cupfuls if beans are dry.
Stir chopped fresh dill into beans. Serve with octopus .