Gigandes Plaki

Giant Baked Beans (Gigandes Plaki)

Possibly also spelled Ghigandhes Plaki.

Inspired by the dish served at Golden Festival.  https://goldenfest.org/

A bottle of white beans in tomato from the Polish store looked like it would be an easy starting point to try this dish.  At Goldenfest we use canned greek giant beans. Butter beans would be a close substitute.  These were good, but I will try to use more tomato and start with dried beans next time.

Attempt one:

About 3 1/2 cups white beans in tomato (1 bottle)
1 small tomato, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 inch cinnamon stick
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
2 Bay leaves
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Olive oil
Pinch red pepper
1/2 teaspoon Urfa chile pepper
(a pinch sugar, if needed–not used here)

Sauté onion

Add garlic

Add carrots and celery

Add pepper

Add tomatoes

Add spices and simmer

Add beans. Move to a baking dish. Scatter feta on top. Drizzle olive in on top

Bake covered 350 about an hour

Onions

Garlic

Carrots and celery

Tomatoes

Red bell pepper

Oregano, paprika, red pepper, Urfa pepper, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick

The finished dish