Baked Gigantes With Honey and Dill

4.34 from 30 votes
There are so many great recipes all over Greece for braised or baked giant beans, called gigantes. These butter, comforting beans marry well with everything from tomatoes to feta and spinach. This recipe is one of my favorites and may be served as an appetizer, vegetarian main course, side dish or meze. You can also enjoy it hot, warm or at room temperature.
4.34 from 30 votes

Baked Gigantes With Honey and Dill

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Soak the beans overnight in ample water. Drain the next day. Place in a large pot with cold water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, skimming the foam off the top. Simmer beans for 1-1 ½ hours, until tender but firm.
  • Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
  • Remove beans from heat and drain, but reserve the water.
  • Place beans in a large baking pan with 6 tablespoons extra-virgin Greek olive oil. Mix the the onions, garlic, carrot, bay leaves, and the tomatoes. Stir in about 1 ½ cups of the bean cooking liquid, just enough to barely cover the beans. Stir in half the honey. Mix thoroughly. Cover the pan with parchment then aluminum foil and bake for about 1 – 1 ½ hours, or until the beans are tender and the sauce is thick and creamy. Add more water throughout baking, if necessary, to keep the beans from drying out.
  • Fifteen minutes before removing from oven, add vinegar, tomato paste, salt and pepper. As soon as the beans come out of the oven, stir in additional honey and vinegar to taste as well as the chopped dill.
  • Serve hot, warm or at room temperature, sprinkled if desired with crumbled feta and drizzled with additional olive oil.

❤️ Enjoyed this Recipe?

Share this recipe on Facebook or Instagram!

Mention @dianekohcilas & tag #dianekochilas!

Rich, hearty, and infused with sweet and savory flavors, these Baked Gigantes With Honey and Dill are a true taste of the Mediterranean—perfect as a comforting main or an impressive side dish.
Visit my online store at shop.dianekochilas.com, where you’ll find hand-picked artisanal Greek products like Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Greek honey—key ingredients for bringing the flavors of Greece to your table!

Diane’s Greek Single-origin Artisanal Foods

Visit my online shop for a wide selection of Greek single-origin artisanal foods, from honeys to wild herbs, olives, olive oils, pistachios, heirloom grain products, fruit preserves and more.

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Travel Cook Eat & Live with Diane

Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

Latest Recipes

More

Lemon Potato Smashers

Lemon Potato Smashers

Seafood Stew

Seafood Stew

Lentil Sweet Potato Soup

Lentil–Sweet Potato Soup with Spinach and Sage

Broccoli cauliflower salad

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with Feta and Lemon-Dill Dressing

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Longevity Recipes

More

Featured In

My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo

D|K