Name: Gigantes Plaki
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 500 g dried gigantes or large butter beans, soaked overnight; 2 bay leaves; 100 ml extra virgin olive oil; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 2 carrots, diced; 2 celery stalks, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tbsp tomato purée; 400 g crushed tomatoes; 300 ml vegetable stock; 2 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp dried thyme; 2 bay leaves; Salt and black pepper; 2 tbsp chopped parsley

About Gigantes Plaki

Gigantes plaki are giant white beans baked in a rich tomato, olive oil and herb sauce until creamy inside and lightly caramelised around the edges. They are filling enough for a vegetarian main course but are equally good served at room temperature as part of a Greek meze.

Ingredients

For the beans

500 g dried gigantes or large butter beans, soaked overnight
2 bay leaves

For the sauce

100 ml extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp tomato purée
400 g crushed tomatoes
300 ml vegetable stock
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
Salt and black pepper
2 tbsp chopped parsley

Method

Drain the soaked beans and cover with fresh water. Add the bay leaves and simmer until almost tender, about 50 to 70 minutes depending on the beans. Drain.
Heat the oven to 180°C.
Cook the onion, carrot and celery gently in the olive oil until softened. Add the garlic and tomato purée and cook for another minute.
Add the tomatoes, stock, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then stir in the parsley.
Combine the beans and sauce in a wide baking dish and bake uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes, until the sauce is thick and the top has begun to caramelise.
Rest for at least 10 minutes before serving and finish with parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

A closer look

Plan your visit

Recipe tips

Soak dried beans overnight for more even cooking.
The beans should be nearly tender before they go into the oven.
Use a wide dish rather than a deep casserole so the sauce can reduce properly.
The flavour is often even better the following day.

What to serve with it

Serve with crusty bread, feta, olives and a sharp green salad. It also works beautifully alongside grilled vegetables or other meze dishes.

The story behind the dish

Gigantes plaki are a classic example of Greek ladera cooking, where vegetables or pulses are cooked generously with olive oil and tomato. The dish is found throughout Greece and fits naturally into Corfu's everyday taverna and home-cooking tradition.

Where to try it in Corfu

Look for gigantes among cooked starters and meze in traditional tavernas across Corfu. They may be served warm or at room temperature and are particularly common in places offering a broad selection of Greek home-style dishes.