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Greek Giant Beans Recipe (Gigantes Plaki)

This Greek Giant Beans recipe (gigantes plaki) is a hearty side dish made with beans in a delicious tomato and olive oil sauce. Greek giant beans are soaked, cooked, and slow baked with vegetables and tomatoes until the edges are crisped to perfection.

A fantastic plant-based addition to your next meze platter. This gigantes plaki recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and naturally gluten free. Everyone at the table can dig in!

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This is yet another recipe from our friend George, who gave us avgolemono with orzo and yourvarlakia, Greek meatball soup. Gigantes are a type of Greek bean, which are related to scarlet runner beans, and very similar to lime beans. Plaki translates to the method of baking or braising the beans by roasting in the oven with vegetables. Not to play favorites, but these Greek giant beans may be my favorite yet.

The secret to these beans is soaking them overnight, simmering them in a creamy tomato sauce, and finally baking them until crispy and golden. Drizzle a little extra olive oil on top, and serve with feta cheese and crusty bread. 

These Greek Giant Beans Are

  • Hearty
  • Rich
  • Satisfying
  • Simple
  • Plant-Based
  • Crispy on the Outside
  • Creamy in the Middle
  • Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free
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Make Greek Giant Beans Vegetarian or Vegan

This vegetarian gigantes plaki is a simple way to get extra bean and vegetables on your plate. I’m all about making recipes plant-based when I can. Vegetarian cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right. By building meals around vegetarian pantry staples and swapping in a few plant-based ingredients you can make better meals for you and your family.

Check out all my vegetarian recipes here that are on The Herbeevore. These easy and tasty recipes are fantastic meatless meals for your table.

giganes plaki vegan vegetarian greek recipes with parsley tomatoes and optional feta

What’s In Gigantes Plaki?

I cook with fresh produce from my garden and from Misfits Market– they sell fantastic fruit, vegetables, & pantry staples at a discounted price. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out favorite produce for delivery. Get $10 off your first box here!

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How Do You Make Greek Plaki with Giant Beans?

  1. Place beans in a bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight.
  2. Drain the beans, and cover with fresh water. Place the beans in a Dutch oven or pot and boil for 30 minutes, skimming any foam from the top of the pot. Drain, and rinse beans. Then add them back to the pot with fresh water and the bay leaf and boil for 1.5 hours until beans are cooked.
  3. Drain beans and set aside.
  4. In a Dutch oven, add the olive oil, onions, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
  5. Add the carrot, bell pepper, and diced tomatoes to the pot and sauté over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour in the vegetable stock. Add the beans and continue to cook over low heat for 15 more minutes until the beans are coated in the sauce and beginning to bubble.
  6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the Dutch oven on the center rack of your oven, or if you don’t have a Dutch oven, the transfer the beans to a baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake for 1 hour.
  7. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes until the beans are crispy on the sides.
  8. Serve beans with extra parsley, feta cheese, and crusty bread.

More Easy Bean Recipes You’ll Love!

Black Bean Soup with Avocado Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Butter Bean Hummus Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

Lemony White Bean Soup Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

Quinoa Chickpea Salad Recipe

Black Bean Shakshuka Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

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Share this Greek Baked Beans Recipe

As always, if you make this vegan and gluten free Greek giant beans recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you.  I love seeing all your photos of my recipes!

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gigandes plaki recipe with lima beans greek baked beans in tomato sauce with parsley vegan and dairy free greek recipes healthy with beans

Greek Giant Beans (Gigantes Plaki)

Kelly Jensen
This Greek Giant Beans recipe (gigantes plaki) is a hearty side dish made with beans in a delicious tomato and olive oil sauce. Greek giant beans are soaked, cooked, and slow baked in a irresistible vegetables and tomatoes until the edges are crisped to perfection.
4.75 from 4 votes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Greek
Servings 8
Calories 343 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place beans in a bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight.
  • Drain the beans, and cover with fresh water. Place the beans in a Dutch oven or pot and boil for 30 minutes, skimming any foam from the top of the pot. Drain, and rinse beans. Then add them back to the pot with fresh water and the bay leaf and boil for 1.5 hours until beans are cooked.
  • Drain beans and set aside.
  • In a Dutch oven, add the olive oil, onions, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
  • Add the carrot, bell pepper, and diced tomatoes to the pot and sauté over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour in the vegetable stock. Add the beans and continue to cook over low heat for 15 more minutes until the beans are coated in the sauce and beginning to bubble.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the Dutch oven on the center rack of your oven, or if you don’t have a Dutch oven, the transfer the beans to a baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake for 1 hour.
  • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes until the beans are crispy on the sides.
  • Serve beans with extra parsley, feta cheese, and crusty bread.

Video

Notes

Save Money on Fresh Groceries & Pantry Staples!

I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell produce & pantry staples (even wine!) at a super discounted price. We get Misfit Market boxes every month and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can get $10 off your first $30 box by clicking here! 
Give Misfits Market a look if you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend it!

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 13gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 320mgPotassium: 1258mgFiber: 13gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 2046IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 6mg
Keyword gigandes plaki recipe, gigantes plaki recipe, greek baked beans, greek beans, greek giant beans, greek plaki, plaki
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Posted in Appetizers, Dairy Free, Easy Weeknight Meals, For Entertaining, Gluten Free, Greek, High Fiber, High Protein, Make Ahead, One Pot Recipes, The Herbeevore Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

5 Comments

  1. Patricia Harants

    4 stars
    I made this recipe, but have. Few suggestions, its alot of liquid especially after cooking the beans..so maybe take the foil off so it thickens more naturally..
    I also added Oregano and Fresh Thyme..after which I removed the thyme branches..seems it needed more flavor!

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