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Recipe · Side dish

Gigantes (Baked Butter Beans)

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Gigantes (Baked Butter Beans)

Recipes and photos are AI created and editorially reviewed. Nutrition figures are estimates.

Greek butter beans baked in a rich tomato sauce with onion, garlic, dill and oregano until the top is caramelised and bubbling.

Side dish. Good with roast lamb, grilled chicken or baked white fish. Find a main

Cuisine
Greek
Serves
6
Prep
15 min
Cook
50 min
Total
65 min
Difficulty
Easy

Gluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeVegetarianVegan

Equipment: Frying pan, ovenproof dish

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 celery stick, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée (tomato paste)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 2 400 g tins butter beans (lima beans), drained and rinsed
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C). Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and cook the onion and celery for 8 minutes until soft. Add the garlic, tomato purée and oregano and cook for 1 minute.
  2. Pour in the tomatoes and 150 ml water, season well and simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the butter beans and most of the dill, then tip into an ovenproof dish and drizzle with the remaining oil.
  4. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the sauce is thick and the top is lightly caramelised. Scatter with the remaining dill to serve.

Swaps and tips

Gigantes are just as good served at room temperature, and they keep for 4 days in the fridge. They freeze well too.

Easy variations

  • Crumble feta over the top for the last 10 minutes
  • Add a pinch of ground cinnamon to the sauce
  • Stir in a handful of spinach before baking
  • Use fresh parsley instead of dill

Nutrition estimated, per serving

ProteinCarbsFibreFatCalories
6 g14 g5 g7 g150 kcal

Values are estimates based on typical UK food composition data and will vary with brands and portion sizes.

Recipes are AI created and editorially reviewed; kitchen testing is ongoing.

Recipe from healthshelf.org

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