Gigantes Plaki Greek Baked Beans

Step 1: Soak the beans overnight,

Step 2: The longer, the better.

Step 3: Preheat oven at 350 Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).

Step 4: Drain and rinse the beans

Step 5: And boil in water for about 40 minutes to an hour, until they are soft but not mushy.

Step 6: Make sure you boil them enough; otherwise the beans will be too hard to eat even after baking.

Step 7: In the meantime

Step 8: Prepare the sauce.

Step 9: Sauté the onion in a bit of olive oil on low heat until soft and add the garlic cloves whole.

Step 10: If you want a stronger garlic flavor you can mince the garlic.

Step 11: Add the tomatoes, the tomato paste mixed in the water, parsley, spices,salt and pepper to taste and about ¼ cup olive oil.

Step 12: Let it simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.

Step 13: Once the beans have boiled, drain them and put them back into the pot, add the sauce and mix gently.

Step 14: Pour the mixture in a pan and spread evenly and then pour about another ¼ cup olive oil over the beans and bake for about 40 minutes until beans are tender.( this dish has alot of oil you might want to just lightly drizzle oil on top for american tastes)