Giant Beans - Oven Baked (Gigantes)

You can find these 'giant' white beans in most Mediterranean food stores. They are very large, white and silky smooth and full of nutrients!

One of my favourite recipes for these beans but it takes quite a few hours to make them...they are totally worth it though!

Giant Beans - Oven Baked (Gigantes)

Ingredients

• 300gr water

• 500gr Giant beans

• 3 bay leaves

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 large garlic cloves

• 2 spring onions

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 1 red bell pepper

• 70gr extra virgin olive oil

• 1 table spoon tomato paste

• 50gr white wine

• 400gr tomato juice

• 1/2 bunch fresh parsley

• 4-5 fresh thyme twigs - use only the leaves

• salt

• pepper

Method

1. Soak the beans 8-10 hours. I usually change the water once.

2. Put the beans in a large pot - I use my pressure cooker. add the bay leaves and water to cover them and bring to boil over medium to high head for 1 hour or 30 mins in the pressure cooker till they start to get soft.

3. Drain them and put them in an over proof dish (about 25x35cm)

4. Preheat the oven to 180°C - air.

5. Chop the garlic, onion and spring onions. Cut the carrots and pepper into cubes.

6. Place a pan over medium to high heat and add 2 table spoons olive oil and sauté the vegetables for a few minutes till they start to wilt.

7. Add the tomato paste and cook for a further 2 mins

8. Add the wine and let it evaporate and then add the tomato juice and mix well.

9. Remove from heat and at to the beans and mix.

10. Add chopped parsley and thyme leaves, salt, pepper and the rest of the olive oil and the water. Mix well.

11. Cover and cook for 1hour and 30 mins and then take off the cover and cook for a further 20 minutes until they start to brown slightly. Mix halfway through if needed.

Best served hot with crumbled feta cheese on top and a side salad!