Gigantes plaki explained

Gigantes plaki (Greek γίγαντες πλακί in Greek, Modern (1453-); pronounced as /ˈʝiɣa(n)des plaˈci/) or Greek giant baked beans,[1] [2] [3] [4] is a Greek dish of large white beans baked in a tomato sauce.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Gigantes plaki may be served as a main dish or as a meze. The beans are traditionally fasolia gigantes 'giant beans', a variety of Phaseolus coccineus.[11]

The Greek cooking method plaki[12] is where food is baked or roasted on a roasting tin in the oven with extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes, vegetables, and herbs, with the well-known gigantes beans plaki and fish plaki.[12]

Cooking methods

The dish is made with dried giant runner beans (called fasolia gigantes), tomatoes, onions, olive oil, parsley, and carrots. Large lima beans are sometimes substituted. Other vegetables such as garlic and celery are sometimes used. The dish is vegan and thus suitable for Orthodox Christian fast days, though sometimes sausages or cubed smoked pork are added.

The beans are soaked and boiled until tender. The aromatics are sautéed to make a sofrito and mixed with the beans. Then the beans are baked until the top layer of the dish is browned. The dish may be served at room temperature or warm.

Serving methods

Gigantes plaki are often served at room temperature as part of a meze. They are also served as a main course. It is particularly popular in the autumn and winter. Gigantes are often served with feta cheese and bread.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gigandes plaki. TasteAtlas. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008182352/https://www.tasteatlas.com/gigandes-plaki. 8 October 2024.
  2. Web site: Gigantes plaki with herbs. Nena. Ismyrnoglou. el. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008181756/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/gi-gantes-plaki-me-myrodika/281562/. 8 October 2024.
  3. Web site: Gigantes plaki with fresh tomato, mint and bukovo. Nena. Ismyrnoglou. el. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008181850/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/kalokairinoi-gigantes/270514/. 8 October 2024.
  4. Web site: Cusina Caruso: Gigantes beans - Roasted butter beans from Prespes Lakes. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008181944/https://cucinacaruso.com/greek-butter-beans/. 8 October 2024.
  5. Web site: Fasolia Gigantes - Greek Giant Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce recipe. Allrecipes.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012232451/http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/9492/fasolia-gigantes---greek-giant-baked-beans-in-tomato-sauce.aspx. 12 October 2017.
  6. Web site: Gigantes (Greek Lima Beans). 25 October 2022. Allrecipes.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008184314/https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/152938/gigantes-greek-lima-beans/. 8 October 2024.
  7. Web site: Organically cooked: Gigandes (Giant beans - baked butter beans). 23 January 2008. 17 July 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180614172608/http://www.organicallycooked.com/2008/01/gigandes-baked-lima-beans.html. 14 June 2018.
  8. Web site: Gigantes (Greek Giant Baked Beans). Food.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008185228/https://www.food.com/recipe/gigantes-greek-giant-baked-beans-59851. 8 October 2024.
  9. Web site: Gigantes Plaki. Good Food. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008185646/https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gigantes-plaki. 8 October 2024.
  10. Web site: Gigantes/Yiyantes (Greek Giant Baked Beans). 26 January 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140114101423/http://thursdayfordinner.com/2008/11/gigantesyiyantes-greek-giant-baked-beans/. 14 January 2014.
  11. Trials with Scarlet Runner Beans (Phaseolus Coccineous L.). A. Hadjichristodoulou. Agricultural Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cyprus. Nicosia. December 1990. 0253-6749. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220726032033/http://news.ari.gov.cy/publications/mr43-hadjichristodoulou.pdf. 26 July 2022.
  12. Web site: Plaki: Its history and 7 Greek recipes. Nikoleta. Makrionitou. el. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241008172856/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntages/plaki-i-istoria-toy-kai-7-ellinikes-syntages/281373/. 8 October 2024.

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