Giant Beans With Spinach And Feta Food

GIGANTES PLAKI RECIPE (GIGANDES GREEK BAKED 'GIANT' BEANS)

Steps:

• To prepare the gigantes (Gigsntes) plaki, start by soaking the gigantes beans overnight into plenty of water. Drain them into a colander and rinse with plenty of water.
• Place the gigantes in a large pan with cold water, enough to cover them, add a pinch of sea salt and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for 45 minutes, until tender but not cooked. Drain them in a colander and set aside.
• In the meantime, pour into a large baking pan the olive oil, add the chopped onions, the whole garlic clove (peeled) and bake at 180C, until softened and slightly colored (approx. 15 minutes).
• Turn the baking pan out of the oven. Add the gigantes beans (drained), the celery, the parsley, ½ cup of hot water and season with salt and pepper. Put back in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
• Turn the baking tray out of the oven, blend the gigantes beans lightly with a wooden spoon and pour in the grated tomatoes or plum tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, add a pinch of oregano and bake the gigantes plaki further for 50-60 minutes at 180C, until the beans are soft and tender and the sauce thickens.
• For an easier alternative, after soaking the gigantes beans overnight, drain and rinse them. Place in a large pan with enough water to cover them and bring to the boil. Boil for 5 minutes, drain them and place into a large baking pan, along with all of the ingredients, cover with some aluminum foil and bake at 180C for approx. 2 hours. The last 30 minutes, bake without the aluminium foil. Enjoy!

GIANT BEANS WITH SPINACH, TOMATOES AND FETA

Steps:

• Combine the beans, water, bay leaf, halved onion, and crushed garlic in a large saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 30 minutes. Add salt to taste and simmer another 30 minutes. The beans should be al dente: not yet soft but not hard either. Remove from the heat. Using tongs, remove and discard the onion, garlic and bay leaf. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain the beans. Taste the broth and adjust seasonings. Set aside.
• While the beans are simmering, blanch the spinach in a large pot of salted boiling water for 20 seconds, or steam just until it wilts, abut 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop coarsely.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the leek and the scallions. Add a pinch of salt and cook, stirring often, until the mixture is tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to an ovenproof casserole or baking dish, preferably earthenware. Stir in the spinach, parsley, dill, beans, half the tomato purée, 2 cups of the bean broth and half the feta. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in another tablespoon of olive oil. Place the remaining tomatoes over the top and sprinkle on the remaining feta. Drizzle on the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Cover and place in the oven.
• Bake 1 to 2 hours, checking the liquid every 20 minutes to make sure that the beans are submerged; add more bean broth if necessary. When they're done, the beans will be creamy but intact.

GIANT BEANS WITH SPINACH AND FETA

Steps:

• Rinse ,pick over, and soak overnight or quick-soak beans.
• Drain them, discarding the soaking liquid; set aside. Bring the beans, 2 quarts fresh water, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a Dutch oven. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the beans are tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, process the bread with 2 tablespoons of the oil in a food processor to coarse crumbs, about 5 pulses; set aside.
• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 400 degrees. When the beans are tender, drain and discard the cooking liquid; set aside. Wipe out the Dutch oven, add 2 more tablespoons of the oil to the pot, and heat over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add half of the spinach, cover, and cook until beginning to wilt, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining spinach, cover, and continue to cook until wilted, about 2 minutes longer. Off the heat, gently stir in the drained beans, tomatoes, dill, and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. (At this point, the dish can be covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.).
• Sprinkle the feta, then the fresh bread crumbs evenly over the top. Bake until the bread crumbs are golden brown and the edges are bubbling, about 20 minutes. (If refrigerated, increase the baking time to 25 to 30 minutes.) Serve immediately with the lemon wedges.

GIGANTE BEANS

Steps:

• Using a strainer, rinse beans. Place rinsed beans in a medium bowl, cover with water, and soak overnight.
• Drain beans and rinse; put beans in a medium pot and cover with 6 inches of water. Add bay leaves and bring to a boil, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender. Season with salt and cook an additional 5 minutes. Drain beans and discard bay leaves.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery, season with salt and pepper, and stir frequently until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, anise seed, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest and cook for 1 minute.
• Add beans and thyme to vegetables and cook for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Cool. Toss with parsley just before serving.

SPINACH, BROAD BEAN & FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare couscous with boiling water, according to the packet's instructions.
• Meanwhile, boil broad beans according to pack instructions. Cool in a colander under the cold tap, then drain. Put baby spinach leaves into a colander and pour over boiling water to wilt. Refresh under cold water and squeeze dry.
• Stir the broad beans, spinach, mint and the black olives into the couscous. Crumble in the feta. Drizzle with plenty of olive oil and season. Toss well.

CRISPY GRILLED FETA WITH SAUCY BUTTER BEANS

Steps:

• Put a large ovenproof frying pan over a medium-high heat, and tip in the passata, butter beans, garlic, oregano, spinach and peppers. Stir together and cook for 6-8 mins until the sauce is bubbling and the spinach has wilted. Season, then add the lemon juice.
• Heat the grill to high. Scatter the feta over the sauce, so it's still exposed, drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle over the lemon zest plus a pinch of oregano, then grind over some black pepper. Grill for 5-8 mins until the feta is golden and crisp at the edges.
• Meanwhile, toast the pittas under the grill or in the toaster, then serve with the beans and feta.

GIGANTE BEANS

Steps:

• Place beans in large bowl. Pour enough water over to cover beans by 3 inches; let soak overnight. Drain beans; set aside.
• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and garlic and sauté until onions are golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Add beans, 8 cups chicken broth, tomatoes with juice, vinegar, ouzo, oregano, and crushed red pepper to pot; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until beans are tender, adding more broth by cupfuls to keep beans submerged and stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 hours, depending on freshness of beans. If necessary, uncover and cook beans until tomato mixture thickens and liquid is slightly reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Season beans to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. DO AHEAD: beans can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm beans before continuing, adding more chicken broth by 1/2 cupfuls if beans are dry.
• Stir chopped fresh dill into beans. Serve with octopus .