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Greek gigantes served in off-white bowl.
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5 from 167 votes

Gigantes (Greek Lima Beans)

This simple but stunning Greek style dish of gigantes plaki, buttery lima beans baked in a rich tomato sauce, can be served as a mezze (an appetizer) or as a tasty side dish. It's a simple recipe loaded with so much flavor and it's so easy to make!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 101kcal
Author: Vaishali · Holy Cow Vegan

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried large lima beans
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic (minced or crushed through a garlic press)
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 2 stalks celery (optional, diced)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes (can use pureed tomatoes)
  • 2 heaping tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Rinse the dried large lima beans in plenty of water. Place the beans and five cups water in the Instant Pot liner. Add a teaspoon of salt and, if you want, a bay leaf. See recipe notes below for stovetop instructions.
  • Cook the beans for 25 minutes and allow pressure to release naturally. If short on time, force release 10 minutes after cooking has ended. Strain the beans and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/180 degrees Celsius.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet or large saucepan with the garlic. Once the garlic takes on a light golden color add the onions and celery, if using. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Saute five minutes or until onions have softened.
  • Add the dried oregano and dried thyme. Mix.
  • Stir in the diced tomatoes or tomato puree and the tomato paste. Add paprika, if using.
  • Add two cups of water or vegetable stock. Mix well and bring to a boil.
  • Add the cooked lima beans to the pot and gently stir them in. Don't mash the beans, you want them whole in the final dish.
  • Bring the lima beans to a boil. Check seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Turn off the stove.
  • Pour the lima beans mixture into a 4-quart or larger baking dish
  • Place in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven and bake 60-70 minutes or until the top is crusty. Garnish with fresh parsley or oregano, if desired, and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 369IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg