Greek Spinach With White Beans And Feta Food

MESSINIA STYLE GIANT BEANS BAKED (GIGANTES) WITH SPINACH & FETA

Steps:

• Put the drained beans in a large pot with enough water to cover by 3 in/7.5cm and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the beans al dente, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile put the spinach in a large colander and sprinkle lightly with salt. With the palm of one hand, rub the spinach against the holes of the colander, almost in a kneading motion, so that the greens exude liquid. Do this for 10 minutes, and then put a plate over the greens and a weight on top of the plate (such as a large can of tomatoes) and leave to drain for 1 hour.
• Heat the 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat and cook the leek and onions, stirring, until wilted, about 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 F/175 C
• Combine the drained greens with the cooked onions, the herbs, and 1 cup/150 g of the feta in a large bowl. Drain the beans, reserving 4 cups/960 ml of the cooking liquid and add to the bowl. Add 1 cup/175 g of the tomatoes and toss to combine. Taste and add salt, if desired, and some pepper.
• Put the beans-and-greens mixture in a large ovenproof casserole or baking dish and mix in ¼ cup/60 ml olive oil and 2 cups/480 ml of the bean cooking liquid. Spread the remaining 1 cup/175 g tomatoes over the beans and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup/75 g of feta and the bread crumbs on top. Drizzle the remaining ¼ cup/60 ml olive oil over the surface and bake, covered with parchment then aluminum foil, until the beans are very creamy and soft, but not disintegrating. Depending on the age and condition of the dried beans, this could take anywhere from 1 to 2 ½ hours. Add more liquid to the pan during cooking if necessary to keep the beans from drying out. Remove the paper and foil about 30 - 45 minutes before removing the beans from the oven, so that the surface caramelizes and chars slightly. Serve hot or at room temperature, accompanied by pita bread.

GREEK SPINACH WITH WHITE BEANS AND FETA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium high heat add oil and once hot add onions, garlic and mushrooms. Sauté until vegetables are almost tender but still have a little crunch.
• Add beans, tomatoes, pepper flakes, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook for five minutes to combine flavors and to reduce the liquid.
• Add spinach and cook just to wilt then add lemon juice and half the feta. Cook just to heat the mixture and remove to a serving bowl.
• Top with remaining feta cheese and serve.

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.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH SPINACH, FETA AND HERBED WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine beans, basil, oregano, 1 tablespoon olive oil and the vinegar:set aside.
• Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. Put each half face down in a glass pie plate with 1/4 cup of water. Cover with plastic wrap. Microwave each for 7 - 10 minutes until the flesh feels soft.Let it stand for 5 minutes and then pull out the strands of flesh and place then in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, wash and trim stems from spinach. Stack leaves and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch (5 mm) wide strips; set aside).
• In a large frypan , heat butter and remaining one tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic;saute for 1 minute.
• Add spinach and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until the spinach is just wilted.
• Add feta cheese and bean mixture; heat through.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add spinach mixture to squash and toss.
• Transfer to serving platter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

BIG FAT GREEK SALAD WITH WHITE BEANS, KALAMATA OLIVES AND FETA

Steps:

• Whisk together vinegar, oil, oregano, and pepper in a large bowl.
• Add lettuce, carrots, cucumber, tomato, beans, and feta; toss.
• Either divide into 4 small bowls or keep in one large one.
• Top with olives and croutons.

LEMONY GREEK CHICKEN, SPINACH AND POTATO STEW

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, warm the oil over high heat. Add the onion, garlic and salt and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are softened and just starting to brown, 5 minutes. (Decrease the heat to medium-high if necessary to prevent scorching.)
• Decrease the heat to medium-high and add the chicken, rosemary, oregano, red-pepper flakes and several generous grinds of black pepper. Cook, breaking up the chicken into crumbles, until the meat starts to lose its translucent pinkness and is turning white, about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and stir well to combine. Add the chicken broth and half the lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom. Bring to a rolling boil and then lower the heat to maintain a very brisk simmer. Simmer until the potatoes are nearly tender, 15 minutes.
• Add the spinach and dill, to taste. Continue to simmer briskly until the potatoes are tender, about 5 minutes more. Taste and add some or all of the remaining lemon juice, as well as more salt and pepper, if desired. Serve in bowls topped with feta and crushed pita chips.

GREEK PASTA WITH WHITE BEANS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water as directed on the box.
• Saute onion and garlic in olive oil in a large non-stick skillet until translucent.
• Add tomatoes, cooked beans, and seasonings to the skillet and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add spinach to the sauce and cook until spinach wilts, stirring constantly.
• Serve sauce over pasta and sprinkle with feta cheese.
• Calories 440, Carbohydrates, 76 g, Fat 7 g, Protein 16 g.