Description
Greek Baked Beans is a hearty and comforting Mediterranean dish featuring tender butter beans slow-cooked and baked in a rich tomato sauce with aromatic vegetables and herbs. Finished with fresh parsley and crumbled feta cheese, it makes a perfect vegetarian main or side for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Vegetables
- 1 pound dry butter beans
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
- 3 – 4 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Sauce
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil (a few swirls for cooking vegetables)
Toppings
- Parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Feta cheese, crumbled (for garnish)
Instructions
- Soak and cook the beans: Place the dry butter beans in a large pot and cover with water about two inches above the beans. Soak for several hours, ideally starting in the morning and continuing until 2-3 hours before dinner. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the beans for 45 minutes to an hour until tender. Add more water if needed to keep the beans covered during cooking.
- Prepare the tomato vegetable sauce: In a separate pan, heat some olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped carrots, onions, and minced jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, crushed tomatoes with their juice, oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C) to prepare for baking the beans in the sauce.
- Combine beans and sauce, then bake: Add 3/4 cup of the cooking water from the beans to the reserved tomato sauce mixture and stir well. Drain the cooked beans and fold them into the tomato mixture. Transfer everything into a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the beans have thickened into a rich sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the baked beans from the oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and crumbled feta cheese. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Soaking the beans ahead of time helps reduce cooking time and improves digestibility.
- Add more or less jalapeno depending on your spice preference.
- This dish can be made vegan by omitting the feta cheese or substituting with a plant-based alternative.
- Use fresh parsley for best flavor and garnish presentation.
- Leftovers taste great reheated the next day.
