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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Gigantes Plaki

    Published: Jul 20, 2021 · Modified: Sep 3, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

    916 shares
    • 871
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Vegetarian
    A bowl of gigantes plaki with a text title overlay.

    If you have not heard of Gigantes Plaki before, then you are in for a treat. It is a Greek dish that translated to 'giant baked beans', but this is our quick stove top version (with oven instructions too) for a quick and easy dinner that is bursting with flavour. Creamy butter beans in a rich tomato sauce topped with plenty of fresh herbs and feta.

    A bowl of gigantes plaki next to a blue towel.

    I want to star this off by saying this isn't the traditional way of cooking Gigantes Plaki, as it would usually be done in an oven and cooked over a longer period of time. We have included the instructions for that too, but this is out 15 minute version because we love Greek flavours, but we also don't have a lot of time.

    Speaking of our love of Greek food - have you tried our Greek Meze Platter, Baked Feta, Easy Greek Rice, Greek Chicken Skewers or Greek Pizza?

    This is a hearty meat-free dish that is bursting with Greek flavours and requires very little preparation. Easy to adapt with different vegetables (although, this would make it less traditional) and easy to make vegan too.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Health benefits of beans
    • Variations
    • What to serve it with
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Extra tips
    • More bean recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Easy -  Just a few store cupboard ingredients is all it takes to make this recipe and then the options for some fresh ingredients on top. Sometimes simple food is the best.
    • Quick - The traditional version of this would be done in the oven and cook low and slow. We wanted these beans as quickly as possible, so we made a cheats version on the hob and it's ready in just 15 minutes. You can do it in the oven if you have more time though.
    • Protein packed - The butter beans make this a protein packed and filling meal. You can eat it by itself of add some sides to bulk it out even more.
    • Freezes well - This is a good meal to batch cook because it freezes so well. We always make a double portion so we can keep some in the freezer for busy days.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Butterbeans - This is the bulk ingredient of Gigantes Plaki and what makes it so protein packed. If you haven't had butterbeans before, you are missing out. They are so creamy and delicious - and excellent meat-free protein. You could swap them for something like cannellini beans or chickpeas, but it wouldn't be traditional. We used tinned beans to keep this a quick recipe, but you could soak and cook dried beans yourself if you prefer.
    • Shallots - You could use a small brown onion (or even frozen onion), but we really like the sweetness of shallots and it compliments the sweetness of the tomatoes.
    • Garlic - We only used a couple of cloves of garlic, but if you are a garlic lover then feel free to go heavy on the garlic. We used freshly crushed garlic, but you could use frozen if you prefer.
    • Tinned tomatoes - This is the base of the sauce. Try to use the best quality tomatoes that you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference. Inexpensive tinned tomatoes tend to be really watery and you don't want that. You want a nice thick sauce.
    • Tomato puree (paste) - Not only will this help to give a more intense tomato flavour, but it will also thicken the sauce. You could use sundried tomato paste too for even more of a tomato flavour.
    • Stock - We used vegetable stock to keep this dish vegetarian, but you could use chicken stock to add more flavour. If you are making this for young kids then use a low salt stock.
    • Cinnamon - This might seem like a strange addition, but trust us on this. Just a little pinch adds a subtle flavour that goes well with the tomatoes.
    • Herbs - Fresh parsley really lightens up the finished dish. You could swap it for coriander or basil if you prefer, but they aren't the traditional herbs that would be used. We also added some dried thyme and oregano, as they are classic Greek herbs.
    • Feta - Is it even a Greek dish without feta? Okay, so you don't need to add feta on to everything, but it wouldn't hurt, right? The creaminess of the feta pairs perfectly with the creaminess of the butterbeans and the saltiness balances out the sweetness of the tomatoes.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Heat the oil in a large pan and then add the shallots and garlic. Soften for 2-3 minutes and then add the tomato puree and stir into the shallots.

    Three shot collage of onions and tomato puree cooking in a pan.

    Two: Add the butterbeans, seasoning and herbs and cinnamon and then add the tinned tomatoes and stir.

    Three shot collage of beans added to the pan, then seasoning then chopped tomatoes.

    Three: Add the stock and then cook on a simmer for 10 minutes.

    Stock added to the pan.

    Four: Transfer to a large bowl and top with fresh chopped parsley and crumbled feta.

    Everything transferred to a bowl and topped with feta and parsley.

    Health benefits of beans

    Beans are a great source of protein and fibre and rather than serving up a can of beans in sauce, like baked beans, if you make them yourself, then you can make sure they aren't loaded with salt and sugar like the canned ones can be. Beans are also a good source of vitamin B and folic acid.

    Variations

    We wouldn't mess with this recipe too much, as it is a classic Greek dish and it is meant to be simple with just a few ingredients. However, if you wanted to add some vegetables that we would recommend finely diced courgette (zucchini) or aubergine cooked at the same time as the shallots.

    If you want to give it a green veggie boost, then adding a couple of handfuls of spinach in towards the end of cooking will make this dish more nutrient dense.

    Crumbled feta and chopped parsley on top of gigantes plaki.

    What to serve it with

    This is a really filling dish on its own. However, you need something to scoop up all that delicious sauce with, right? Some pitta bread or chunks of crusty bread would be perfect. Or, if you fancy making something from scratch to go alongside this, why not try our Easy Flatbread Recipe.

    Looking for some side dishes to bulk out this meals and make it go further? We have got you covered. Why not try our Easy Greek Rice, Parmesan Truffle Fries, Baked Tortilla Chips or Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

    Gigantes plaki topped with feta and parsley.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Gigantes Plaki healthy?

    This is a low in calories and low in fat dish that is packed with protein. The beans will help to keep you fuller for longer and you can also add extra vegetables to bulk it out and make it more nutrient dense.

    How to store Gigantes Plaki

    If you have leftovers of this then you can put it in an air tight container in the fridge and it will keep for 2 days.

    Can you freeze Gigantes Plaki?

    Yes, this freezes well. The beans don't quite have the same texture once they are defrosted, but it is still delicious. Just make sure that it has fully cooled and then portion it out to freezable containers and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just add the feta and parsley on just before serving.

    How to reheat Gigantes Plaki?

    You can either reheat this in the microwave for a couple of minutes or you can heat it through on the hot. Make sure it is hot before serving.

    Is Gigantes Plaki gluten free?

    Yes, all the ingredients are gluten free, but watch out for any cross contamination. 

    How to make vegan Gigantes Plaki

    If you leave out the feta and use a vegetable stock then this dish is already vegan.

    Can you make Gigantes Plaki in advance?

    Yes, you could make everything in advance and then keep it in the pan with a lid on until later in the day when you are ready to serve - just heat it through.

    Can you make Gigantes Plaki in the oven?

    Yes, traditionally it would be made in the oven but we wanted to make a quicker version of it. Once you have added all the ingredients to the pan (use an oven safe pan), then put it in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 for 30 minutes.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Try to use the best quality tinned tomatoes that you can, as they are the base of the sauce. Inexpensive tomatoes are too watery and you get a thin sauce rather than the rich thick one that we are going for.
    • We also like added in some chopped kalamata olives which really boost those Greek flavours.
    • You can swap the parsley for dill, which you will also find in a lot of Greek cuisine.

    More bean recipes

    • Mexican Beans on Toast
    • Spanish Beans
    • White Bean Pasta
    • Easy Three Bean Curry

    If you’ve tried these Greek beans, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    A bowl of gigantes plaki.

    Gigantes Plaki

    If you have not heard of Gigantes Plaki before, then you are in for a treat. It is a quick and easy dinner that is bursting with flavour.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    5 from 25 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Greek
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 13 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 313kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 400 g Butter beans - drained
    • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 3 Shallots - peeled and diced
    • 2 Garlic clove - peeled and crushed
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato puree
    • 400 g Chopped tomatoes - canned
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • 1 pinch Cinnamon
    • 0.5 teaspoon Dried oregano
    • 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 5 g Fresh parsley - finely chopped
    • 40 g Feta - crumbled
    • 200ml Vegetable stock

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a large pan and then add the shallots and garlic. Soften for 2-3 minutes and then add the tomato puree and stir in to the shallots.
    • Add the butterbeans, seasoning and herbs and cinnamon and then add the tinned tomatoes and stir.
    • Add the stock and then cook on a simmer for 10 minutes.
    • Transfer to a large bowl and top with fresh chopped parsley and crumbled feta.

    Notes

    • Try to use the best quality tinned tomatoes that you can, as they are the base of the sauce. Inexpensive tomatoes are too watery and you get a thin sauce rather than the rich thick one that we are going for.
    • We also like added in some chopped kalamata olives which really boost those Greek flavours.
    • You can swap the parsley for dill, which you will also find in a lot of Greek cuisine.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 1212mg | Potassium: 1060mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 632IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 242mg | Iron: 7mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jen

      January 27, 2023 at 10:44 am

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe! Thanks for sharing a quick stovetop version. The ease makes it a great go-to meal. With or without feta is yummy. I’ve done versions with fine chopped carrot added in with the onion/shallot and/or frozen spinach, to add more veg. Of course lovely to add a drizzle olive oil when serving :)

      Reply
    2. UncleMarty

      December 24, 2022 at 1:36 am

      In directions: "add the tomato puree and stir in to the onions."
      What onions ?
      Stock issue fixed.
      Why do so many on-line recipes contain identical errors? ... 'bots! *sigh*

      Real People: this looks good. Needs acid - lemon / vinegar.
      For me tomato base will be a touch of quality bottled. Easy-peasy.

      Butter Beans - so good.

      Reply
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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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