Auntie's Famous Greek Baked Beans | Holy Recipe

Ingredients

• ***For the beans:***
• 1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, roughly chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more, to taste
• 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 6 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• red pepper flakes, optional, to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (15-ounce) can butter beans, drained and rinsed
• ***Optional, for serving:***
• extra-virgin olive oil, to taste
• flat-leaf parsley, to taste, chopped
• feta cheese, to taste, crumbled
• rustic bread, to taste, sliced