FASOLIA GIGANTES PLAKI STON FOURNO: Big / Giant or Elephant Beans baked
in Red tomato Sauce:
A VERY COMMON DISH OF GREECE
by.George Portokalakis
GREEK VEGAN HOME MADE COOKING
One of the mistakes
that they usually do about the Greek Kitchen is to say that it has mainly meat
dishes.
Actually, as I
always say, in all my recipes, Greek cuisine has a huge number of the best
vegetarian dishes someone can find.
Gigantes
fournou translates as giant baked beans. They are
traditionally cooked with a tomato based sauce in the oven.
Super healthy, and full
of filling, Gigantes Plaki (γίγαντες πλακί), is a popular meal all
over Greece
Gigantes, or giant white
beans, are slow-baked in a tomatoes sauce until they are creamy and
caramelized.
Gigantes are
large white kidney-shaped beans.
The
beans are baked in a simple tomato sauce that
uses plenty of fresh herbs. In this recipe I have used onions, garlic, leeks,
carrots, tomato, oregano, salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil. Leeks can be
replaces by spinach or any other green you like.
It
takes a bit of time with the soaking the beans over night followed by simmering
them and then making the tomato sauce and finally baking everything but it is
worth it.
As
you can see the Gigantes plaki turned out really well!
The
beans are nice, tender and creamy and they have a great meaty texture.
The
tomato sauce has reduced down until it turned nice and thick and full of flavour!
Leave
the beans in the oven until the top just started to charred and believe me
these caramelized bits are the tastiest part of all.
Gigantes Plaki – a small pot full
1 tea cup dried giant beans (100g )
Half tea cup olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 leek stalks chopped in slices
1 carrot, finely sliced
1 large tomato or 2 medium size, roughly chopped
1
tablespoon tomato puree
2 small sun dried tomatoes finelly chopped
Directions:
Soak the dried Gigantes beans in water over night.
Bring the water to a boil and simmer until the
beans are tender, about 30-40 minutes.
Heat the oil in a pan.
Add the onions, garlic, carrot and leeks and
cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and sun dried tomatoes and oregano and simmer until
the sauce thickens, about 15 - 20 minutes.
Season the tomato sauce with salt and pepper to
taste and keep simmer until the sauce thickens,.
Pour the half of the tomato sauce mixture into a
casserole dish.
and cover with the rest of the tomato sauce,
and 1/2 cup of the liquid that the beans were cooked,
Bake in a preheated 350F oven and cook in the oven for 1 hour, until the beans are really soft, the top is browned and a lot of the liquid has evaporated and has been absorbed.
That’s it!
And here you have it: vegan, healthy baked beans!
Questions? Feel free to ask: info@portoclub.gr
Ask for Mr. George Portokalakis
GREEK VEGAN HOME MADE COOKING
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήGigantes fournou translates as giant baked beans. They are traditionally cooked with a tomato based sauce in the oven.
Here you have it: vegan, healthy baked beans!