My Big Fat Greek Baked Beans

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 105 min
Servings: 10
Yield: 10 servings

Description

Proving that the best baked beans are Greek, Chef John bakes big, fat corona beans with tomatoes, dill, olive oil, and feta cheese into a flavorful casserole.

Ingredients

1 pound dried Corona beans
3 quarts cold water
2 bay leaves
1 large red onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, sliced
2 cups tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups water, or more as needed
4 ounces feta cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

Directions

1 Place corona beans in a large bowl. Cover with a generous amount of water and let soak, 8 hours or overnight.
2 Drain beans into a pot. Add 3 quarts fresh water and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, stir, and reduce heat to medium. Simmer until just tender but not too soft, 45 to 60 minutes.
3 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4 Drain beans and spread into a large casserole dish. Add red onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, honey, 1/2 cup dill, olive oil, salt, pepper, cayenne, vinegar, and water. Mix until well combined. Place the dish onto a lined baking sheet to catch any spills.
5 Bake in the preheated oven until top is bubbling and caramelized and beans are soft, about 1 hour. Check periodically and add more water if casserole is too dry.
6 Stir casserole and smooth the top. Garnish with feta cheese and 1 tablespoon dill.