--- title: "Gigantes Plaki a.k.a Giant Baked Beans" id: "15337" type: "post" slug: "gigantes-plaki-a-k-a-giant-baked-beans" published_at: "2025-06-24T20:45:58+00:00" modified_at: "2025-06-24T22:28:33+00:00" url: "https://mondaydreams.com/2025/06/24/gigantes-plaki-a-k-a-giant-baked-beans/" markdown_url: "https://mondaydreams.com/2025/06/24/gigantes-plaki-a-k-a-giant-baked-beans.md" excerpt: "Greek food is AMAZING, it’s simple, fresh and so flavorful. It’s very difficult to have bad food in Greece, or maybe I was just lucky, but every dish I had was incredible. Gigantes Plaki is one meal I had often,..." taxonomy_category: - "Appetizers" - "Mains" - "Sides" taxonomy_language: - "English" taxonomy_post_translations: - "pll_6797f3e0560ae" --- # Gigantes Plaki a.k.a Giant Baked Beans by [Gaby](https://mondaydreams.com/author/gabysommer/) on [June 24, 2025](https://mondaydreams.com/2025/06/24/gigantes-plaki-a-k-a-giant-baked-beans/) in [Appetizers](https://mondaydreams.com/category/appetizers/) , [Mains](https://mondaydreams.com/category/mains/) , [Sides](https://mondaydreams.com/category/sides/) [Jump to Recipe](#recipe) [Print Recipe](https://mondaydreams.com/wprm_print/gigantes-plaki-a-k-a-giant-baked-beans) A Greek classic and my personal favorite. If you’ve traveled through Greece, chances are you’ve tried this delicious dish. But if you’ve never experienced the magic of Gigantes Plaki, you’re in for a treat! Greek food is AMAZING, it’s simple, fresh and so flavorful. It’s very difficult to have bad food in Greece, or maybe I was just lucky, but every dish I had was incredible. Gigantes Plaki is one meal I had often, because it’s naturally vegan and scrumptious. So, what’s special about this traditional dish? Nothing. Gigantes Plaki combines giant beans with a garlicky tomato sauce; that’s it. Sounds boring? Trust me, it’s not. The secret to this incredible recipe is baking the beans for a long time. The sauce will thicken and develop a beautiful depth of flavor. The result is a comforting, rich, fragrant, truly satisfying meal you are going to be making on repeat. Because this super easy, yet wholesome and delicious dish will quickly become a family favorite. **WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE:** **Wholesome Ingredients:** Olive oil, onion, garlic, butter beans and tomatoes form the backbone of this dish. It’s simple, nutritious and delicious. Also, you might already have everything you need to make this recipe in your kitchen. **Mediterranean Goodness:** The combination of tender white beans with a rich, garlicky tomato sauce that’s slow-simmered to perfection delivers a healthy and hearty meal that’s bursting with Mediterranean flavors. **Effortless Comfort Food:** It’s a breeze to prepare but feels like a warm hug in every bite. Yes, it takes a bit of time to cook, but the oven does most of the work. Also, most recipes cook the beans from scratch, I like saving some time and buying jarred beans. Canned beans work too. **Family-Friendly:** This naturally nourishing vegan meal is loved by plant-based enthusiasts and non-vegans alike. **TIPS FOR SUCCESS:** **Use High-Quality Ingredients:** Since this dish relies on simple components, opt for the best olive oil, ripe tomatoes, and creamy butter beans you can find. Bland tomatoes will result in a bland dish. **Serving Suggestions:** Serve it with a big slice of sourdough bread and fresh herbs. You could also top it with chopped black olives and vegan (or not) feta cheese. **Make It Ahead:** Gigantes Plaki tastes just as good the next day, making it perfect for meal prep. **WHY GIGANTES PLAKI DESERVES A SPOT ON YOUR TABLE** This dish isn’t just a testament to the beauty of Mediterranean cuisine; it’s also a versatile recipe that can be enjoyed in countless ways. Serve it as a main course, a hearty appetizer, or a satisfying side dish. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or looking for an easy weeknight meal, Gigantes Plaki delivers every time. This nourishing meal is loaded with plant-based protein and fiber. So, grab your ingredients, channel those sunny Greek vibes, and enjoy this simple yet unforgettable recipe. And let us know how it turns out— so, leave a comment below or tag us on [Instagram @mondaydreams blog](https://www.instagram.com/mondaydreamsblog/) . We love hearing from you! ## Gigantes Plaki a.k.a Giant Baked Beans A traditional Greek recipe that’s incredibly easy to make, naturally vegan, protein-rich and fiber-rich. This comforting, rich, fragrant, truly satisfying meal will quickly become a family favorite. [Print Recipe](https://mondaydreams.com/wprm_print/gigantes-plaki-a-k-a-giant-baked-beans) [Pin Recipe](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondaydreams.com%2F2025%2F06%2F24%2Fgigantes-plaki-a-k-a-giant-baked-beans%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fmondaydreams.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F06%2FGigantes-plaki-0003-web-1.webp&description=Gigantes+Plaki+a.k.a+Giant+Baked+Beans&is_video=false) Prep Time 20 minutes mins Cook Time 50 minutes mins Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins Course Appetizers, Main Course, Sides Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean, Plant-based Servings 3 mains ### Ingredients - 3Tbspolive oil - 1small onion,finely chopped - 3garlic cloves,minced - 2cupschopped tomatoes,use fresh, ripe tomatoes - ½cupwater - 2Tbsptomato paste - 1tspcoconut sugar,or brown sugar - ½tspsea salt - ½tspdried oregano - ¼tspchili flakes - Big pinch of cinnamon - 2cupscooked giant butter or lima beans,drained and rinsed #### TO SERVE: - Sourdough bread - Fresh herbs - Chopped black olives,optional - Vegan (or not) feta,optional ### Instructions - Preheat the oven to 350 °F / 180°C. - In an oven-safe large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, just use a normal skillet and then transfer the beans to an oven safe casserole. - Add onion and garlic, sauté for 5 minutes, until translucent. - Add tomatoes, water, tomato paste, sugar, sea salt, oregano, chili flakes and cinnamon. Sauté for 10 more minutes. - Stir in the butter beans. Turn off the heat. - If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the mixture to a baking dish. - Bake the beans for 50 minutes, the sauce should be thick and bubbly. - Sprinkle a bit more sea salt on top if needed and serve with a big slice of sourdough bread and your favorite fresh herbs. - Enjoy this comforting meal. Keyword butter beans, easy recipes, greek food, healthy dinner, mediterranean cuisine, mediterranean diet ### Search ### Recent Post - [Single-Serve Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie](https://mondaydreams.com/2025/12/04/single-serve-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookie/) - [Herbed Quinoa Pea Salad](https://mondaydreams.com/2025/10/21/herbed-quinoa-pea-salad/) - [Greek-Inspired Potato Stew](https://mondaydreams.com/2025/09/30/greek-inspired-potato-stew/) - [No Churn Vegan Chocolate Almond Ice Cream](https://mondaydreams.com/2025/09/23/no-churn-vegan-chocolate-almond-ice-cream/) - [Apple Pecan Cookies](https://mondaydreams.com/2025/08/18/apple-pecan-cookies/) ### Archives Archives Select Month December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 June 2025 April 2025 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 January 2017