Tomato and Feta Casserole with Gigantes Beans

Just yum! One of the tastiest dishes I have made recently. Such a perfect spring meal, and how can I resist the excellent sheep milk feta cheese and beautiful colossal Kalamata olives from the Perfect Bakery, located at 116 Hamilton Road here in London, Ontario. They have the best olives and feta cheese in the city. It's also a pleasure to grow fresh herbs outside too that are an ideal addition to meals. You must try this creation. Nourishing and creative, you can't go wrong with this dish. Your carnivorous friends won't miss the meat at all.

Tomato and Feta Casserole with Gigantes Beans

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Greek Published on June 3, 2011 Rich, hearty and delicious Greek gigante bean and tomato casserole with fresh herbs, feta cheese and Kalamata olives Preparation: 25 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour 35 to 40 minutes Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 cup dried gigantes beans 5 sun-dried tomatoes 1 whole star anise 1/4 cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small red onion, chopped 2 small cloves of garlic, minced or crushed 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes 2 large tomatoes, diced 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped (1 teaspoon dried) leaves from 1 sprig of fresh thyme (1 teaspoon dried) pinch of ground cayenne 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped 1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped 2/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste fresh ground black pepper to taste Instructions: Soak the beans overnight in enough water to cover. Drain and rinse, then transfer to a large saucepan and cover with several inches of fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender — about 1 hour. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, soak the sun-dried tomatoes in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes, then drain and chop. At the same time, soak the star anise in the white wine. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeños and dried red pepper flakes, and continue to stir until fragrant — about 1 minute. Discard the star anise and pour the wine into the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes, then toss in the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, oregano, thyme and cayenne. Continue to simmer until the mixture begins to thicken — about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the cooked gigantes beans, parsley, dill, feta and olives. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly buttered casserole dish and bake uncovered in a preheated 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Serve hot or warm. Makes 4 to 6 servings

More Greek recipes from my kitchen:
Greek Lentil Soup - Fakes
Baked Gigantes in Tomato Sauce
Greek Macaroni and Cheese
Greek Feta & Olive Frittata