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GIANT BAKED BEANS W/ ROASTED RED PEPPERS




Source of Recipe


Meze: Small Plates to Savor and Share from the Mediterranean Table


List of Ingredients




1/2 bag (1/4 pound) Greek giant beans or butter beans
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup extra virgin Greek olive oil
1 large red onion, finely chopped
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
4 large roasted red bell peppers, preserved in olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 bay leaves
4 to 6 slices pastourma to taste
2 to 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar to taste

Recipe



1. Soak the beans according to package directions or in ample water for 6 to 8 hours. Remove from soaking liquid, and place in a pot with ample fresh water (enough to come about 3 inches above the beans). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the flame to low and simmer the beans for approximately 1 hour, or until al dente. About 15 minutes before removing the beans from the heat, season with salt. Drain and reserve the boiling liquid.

2. As the beans simmer, heat the 3 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet over medium heat, and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove the peppers from their oil and finely chop. Add them to the onions and garlic, and stir over medium heat for about 3 minutes to meld the flavors a little. Remove.

3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the beans and onion-pepper mixture in an ovenproof glass or ceramic baking dish. Add about 2/3 cup of the reserved bean cooking liquid, as well as 2 tablespoons olive oil and a little of the oil that the peppers were preserved in. There should be a fair amount of liquid in the dish. Season with the salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Cover the dish and bake for about 1 hour, or until the beans are very tender and their centers creamy.

4. In the meanwhile, prepare the pastourma: Cut away the tsimeni, or sticky spice rub, and cut the pastourma across the width of each slice into thin 1/3-inch-wide strips. Twenty minutes before the beans are done, toss in the pastourma. Five minutes before the beans come out of the oven, pour in the vinegar. Season to taste with additional salt. Remove from the oven, pour in the remaining olive oil, and serve. You can let the beans cool to room temperature as well. They also taste great the following day.

Diane Kochilas shares her tips with Epicurious:
• Kochilas uses dried beans, never "insipid" canned ones. Waiting to salt the cooking water until the beans are almost done prevents them from becoming tough.
• Look for Greek brands of roasted sweet red peppers, preserved in extra-virgin olive oil. Or roast your own — they'll keep in the refrigerator for a few months, and leftovers make a delicious addition to sandwiches and salads.
• Pastourma, a cured beef product that's rubbed with spices, is available online at www.greekfoodanddrink.com. For a tasty vegetarian version of this dish, leave out the pastourma and add dried cumin to taste.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.