Making those vinegary marinated big white beans you see in deli or olive bar

[nasv]

At an olive bar and at an Italian deli I've seen these big white beans (not sure if they're cannellini's or other variety) that are in an oily and acidic (vinegary) marinade with what looks like roasted sweet peppers and other herbs and aromatics. I think they are always served cold.

I don't know what this is called, and I'm not quite sure how to reproduce this at home. My son LOVES these and I'd like to figure out how to reproduce these at home instead of buying them.

Thanks in advance!
-Nico

[noeldottir]

Yes, those are gigantes, or gigandes. Once you find a source (try online? I get mine from a local italian/greek deli and they're about $6/12 oz bag. Ouch.), soak overnight, bring to a boil in lots of water on top of stove, skim, add a bay leaf and whatever else you want, then BAKE @ 350, don't simmer stovetop. It's much more gentle, beans don't break up. I salt the water about halfway through, and check occasionally to be sure the beans are still covered in water. If not, top up (they absorb a lot of water). When they're done, let cool to lukewarm in the liquid, which also helps prevent them from breaking, drain, add to a vinaigrette flavored however you want (garlic and herbs for me, good vinegar and oil), along w. the roasted peppers you like. I like to add chopped pickled peppers, as in pickled cherry peppers or peppadews. Let cool completely, taste again for seasoning, eat happily. Hope this helps.

[magiesmom]

$4.95/lb here.less in larger amounts
http://www.purcellmountainfarms.com/G...

[noeldottir]

Just saw this. Thanks very much!

[mbfant]

They are called fagioli di Spagna in Italian and are pretty much the same as gigantes. Also called white Spanish beans in English. As for making the salad, you're on your own, but I agree, it's a great dish.

[Whippet]

I know the salad you mean, and it's good. I've never made it from a recipe, but this looks close:
http://www.vegetarian-kitchen.com/mar...

[nasv]

YES!

[robt5265]

I think what you are referring to are actually Fava Beans. You are starting to see them more and more in the U.S. in the produce dept.

[nasv]

No, not favas, I'm familiar with fresh and dried favas. The ones I'm thinking more closely resemble cannellini beans or bigger. I think they could be the "gigantes" mentioned earlier.

[pinehurst]

Are you thinking of lupini?

If so, a good prep/primer is here.

http://blogs.poughkeepsiejournal.com/...

[nasv]

Nah, those aren't it... they look more like giant cannellini beans that have been dressed/marinated with some herbs and bits of sweet pepper.

[pinehurst]

Lima beans, as in the below?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/hea...

[nasv]

Hmmm... the lima beans I'm familiar with (Christmas lima's) are dark colored, purple-ish, but this actually seems to resemble it pretty closely, thank you!

[rasputina]

You think you are referring to gigantes?

[nasv]

I have seen "gigantes" that look like the big white beans, but I've only seen them jarred at Trader Joe's in some sort of red-sauce. So perhaps the same bean, but much different preparation.