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YiaYia's Cozy Greek Gigantes

APPROXIMATE MACROS u003cbru003eu003cstrongu003ecalories:u003c/strongu003e ~447u003cbru003eu003cstrongu003ecarbohydrates:u003c/strongu003e ~74 gu003cbru003eu003cstrongu003eprotein:u003c/strongu003e ~22 gu003cbru003eu003cstrongu003efat:u003c/strongu003e ~8 gu003cbru003eu003cstrongu003efiber:u003c/strongu003e ~22 gu003cbru003eu003cbru003esee text for scaling into smaller recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 447kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 cups dried giant beans (gigantes or large lima beans), soaked 18 hours (about 2 lbs) 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling) 2 large onions, finely diced 5 garlic cloves, minced or ~1 tbsp garlic paste 3 medium carrots, diced 2 tsp dried oregano 2 tsp dried thyme (or a few fresh sprigs) 3 bay leaves 2 cans (28 oz each) diced tomatoes (with juices) 3 tbsp tomato paste 1 cup water or vegetable broth (add more if needed) 2 tsp maple syrup or honey (balances acidity) salt + pepper to taste fresh parsley and dill for garnish optional: pinch of chili flakes

Instructions

  • soak beans: place beans in plenty of water and soak 18 hours. drain and rinse well.
  • cook beans: transfer beans to a large pot, cover with fresh water, and bring to a boil. reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for at least 70 minutes, up to 90 minutes depending on bean freshness. beans should be tender and creamy inside but not falling apart. drain and set aside.
  • make sauce in pot: in an oven-safe pot (like a caraway or dutch oven), heat olive oil over medium. add onions + carrots, cooking about 10 minutes until softened and lightly golden. stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
  • build tomato base: stir in tomato paste and cook 2 minutes to deepen the flavor. add diced tomatoes, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, maple syrup or honey, and broth. season generously with salt + pepper. simmer uncovered 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rich and thickened.
  • combine + bake: gently stir beans into the sauce. drizzle a little extra olive oil on top. cover with lid (or foil) and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes. uncover and bake another 25 minutes until bubbling and caramelized at the edges.
  • finish + serve: remove bay leaves. sprinkle with parsley and dill before serving. enjoy with crusty bread, feta, and olives.