GIGANTES PLAKI (GREEK BAKED BEANS)

Gigantes Plaki (Greek Baked Beans) image

Provided by Marsha Gardner

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 lb dried gigantes, butter beans, elephant beans or large lima beans
3 bay leaves
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
4 clove garlic
red pepper flakes to taste
1 qt diced tomatoes
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
kosher salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 c parsley, chopped
1/4 c dill, chopped

Steps:

1. Soak the dried gigantes beans in water with the bay leaves over night. Bring the water to a boil and simmer until the beans are tender, about 30-40 minutes.
2. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onions, carrot and celery and cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes. Add the garlic and chili pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
3. Add the tomatoes, paprika and oregano and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Season the tomato sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Mix the parsley, dill, beans and 1/2 cup of the liquid that the beans were cooked in into the tomato sauce.
4. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until the top is browned and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 50-60 minutes.