Creamy white beans baked in a rich tomato sauce with loads of feta and emerald green parsley oil are a twist on the Greek dish Gigantes Plaki, inspired by Kokkari Estiatorio in San Francisco.
Discovering Gigantes Plaki
A few of weeks ago, I met my friend Emma at Kokkari Estiatorio, a Greek restaurant in San Francisco’s Financial District. Though new to me, it was clear the moment I walked in that Kokkari is a seasoned SF establishment. I felt instantly cozy as I took a seat at the long bar, not just from the large stone fireplace and crackling fire, or the weathered wood table laden with huge loaves of freshly baked bread, or even from the glass of dry red wine handed to me by the cheery bartender; even at 5:30 on a Monday afternoon, the place was packed with friends, families, and couples all of who seemed to feel as lucky as I did to be out of the cold and anticipating a good meal.
Emma and I had both ogled the oven-baked giant beans with tomato sauce, olive oil & herbed feta from the online menu, and Emma had ordered some. They waited for me in an individual cast iron skillet, warm and bubbly and slathered in olive oil. The beans themselves were tender and creamy, the tomatoes were thick and sweet and peppered with nubs of tangy feta. There was something green on top that cut through the richness – parsley pureed with olive oil, I thought.
We downed the beans as we discussed boys, photography, and food. There was tomato and cucumber salad bathed in olive oil and oregano, a slab of kefalograviera saganaki (fried cheese!), and for dessert, a slice of the lightest, creamiest flourless chocolate cake we’d ever had, and a scoop of tart frozen yogurt with the texture of gelato.
On our way out the door, we spied a cook brewing coffee in small pots set in a bed of hot sand. We annoyed the bustling staff by standing there, mesmerized, watching him scoop coffee grounds, water, and sweetener into the pots, nestling them in the sand under which a fire burned, and 30 seconds later, the coffee bubbled up. He poured us each a cup and it tasted like hot cocoa – thick, rich, and slightly sweet.
My Take on Gigantes Plaki
Gigantes plaki stayed in my mind the rest of the night (caffeine high!); I needed to eat them again, ASAP.
You might think that beans would make for rather a stark dinner, but this is not the case when they’re baked in rich tomato sauce surrounded by loads of cheese. Gigantes Plaki manage to feel nourishing, healthy, and decadent all in one go, almost like a baked pasta dish without the pasta. The lemony parsley oil isn’t traditional, but it’s what makes this dish pop, hooking me into another bite, and another.
A bit of crusty bread or toast (I’m currently loving Grindstone Bakery’s gluten-free sourdough flecked with flax seeds) is handy for pushing the sauce around. Finish it off with a little salad and a glass of red wine, and you’ve got yourself a tasty meal. Or spoon the beans over crostini for a perfect little appetizer. Sometimes I like to add kalamata olives into the recipe for a little extra punch.
More Bean Recipes:
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Tomato Baked White Beans with Feta and Lemon Parsley Oil
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This twist on the Greek dish Gigantes Plaki makes a tasty appetizer or cozy vegetarian meal. Serve with a bit of bread or toast to push the sauce around. Sometimes I like to add half a jar or so of drained, pitted kalamata olives along with the feta for a little extra kick.
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Ingredients
Beans:
- 1 cup (165 g) dry large white beans such as cannellini, giant, or butter beans, soaked in cool water 8 hours or overnight
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 large garlic clove, peeled
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Tomato Sauce + Cheese:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- ½ medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups (28 ounces / 790 g) canned or jarred diced tomatoes (such as Jovial brand)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 ounces (170 g) feta, in large crumbles (1 ½ cups)
Parsley Oil:
- Leaves from ½ bunch parsley
- zest and juice of ½ large lemon
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
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Instructions
Make the beans:
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Place the soaked, drained beans in a large saucepan and cover with 4 inches of water. Add the bay leaf and garlic, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a simmer, cover the pot partially, and simmer the beans until nearly tender; this can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending on the size and dryness of the beans. Add the salt and continue cooking until the beans are very tender but still holding a shape. Let cool in their liquid until needed. The beans can be stored, refrigerated airtight, for up to 1 week. When ready to use, drain well and remove the bay leaf.
Make the tomato sauce:
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Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400ºF. Have a ceramic or glass baking vessel at the ready; I use an oval gratin dish measuring 9×13 inches; a 10-inch round pan or 9-inch square would work, or anything equivalent.
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In a wide, non-reactive skillet (steel or enamel so as not to affect the flavor of the tomatoes), heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and saucy, 10 minutes.
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Scrape the sauce into the pan and add the drained beans, tossing them to coat. Dot with the feta, pressing it into the sauce, and drizzle with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake the beans until bubbling and beginning to brown on top, 25-35 minutes.
Make the parsley oil:
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While the beans bake, place the parsley, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, and salt in a blender or small food processor. Puree smooth. The parsley oil can be kept refrigerated airtight for up to several days.
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When the beans are baked, drizzle with some of the parsley oil and serve. Leftovers reheat well in a 350ºF oven for 10 or so minutes.
Notes
Nutritional values are based on one of four servings.
Nutrition
Calories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 11gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 1465mgPotassium: 440mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 725IUVitamin C: 30.9mgCalcium: 330mgIron: 3.8mg
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