Gigandes Plaki - Cooking Methods

Cooking Methods

Although there are many variations to this popular dish, it usually consists of Greek fasolia gigandes (giant white beans), tomatoes, onions, olive oil, parsley, and sugar. When fasolia gigandes cannot be obtained, large lima beans are suitable substitutes. Other vegetables such as garlic, carrots, and celery are sometimes used, and some recipes even use sausages.

As with many beans, the fasolia gigandes must be soaked overnight in plenty of cold water. Then the beans are boiled until tender and the rest of ingredients are added. The cooking method for the gigandes plaki is to sauté all of the ingredients for 20 minutes. Then the beans are baked in the oven until the top layer of the dish is slightly charred from the sugar reacting to the heat. The beans are garnished with parsley and Greek feta, then served with Greek bread alongside this dish.