Hello everyone,
Green beans, how to cook green beans boiled or steamed, that’s what pops into our mind. Sometimes it’s fine to eat beans that way but there is another way of cooking Green Beans: the Greek way. This Green Bean Stew (Fasolakia) is prepared with flat green beans braised in tomato sauce potatoes and carrots. There are a few types of beans that you can use but I prefer to cook with the flat Green beans because they tend to cook better than the round beans. Greeks call this dish Fasolakia Lathera, which means “in oil” and mainly describes a category of recipes of its own in Greek cooking.
This Green Bean Stew has many different variations depending on which part of Greece you come from. I like to add potatoes, carrots, and sometimes peas to this recipe. Others like it simple, green beans in tomato sauce with a few herbs, I believe that it all has to do with personal taste. Look, in all honesty, any way you try this dish it always tastes good. There are also two types of ways of cooking this recipe, stove top or in the oven. You can also add in more spices but I prefer to keep it simple with salt and pepper and herbs.
Cooking food that has as its main ingredient olive oil as this Green Bean Stew (Fasolakia) for example good quality olive oil is essential Greeks pay attention to the olive oil they use. I only use olive oil when cooking, I rarely use butter when cooking, but I do use butter when baking. We have friends who have their own olive grove on the island of Cefalonia where my husband is from. We’ve been buying from them for years, what can I say the oil is just amazing. A beautiful green color, and just so tasty.
This Green Bean Stew is a tasty vegetarian and vegan dish that is also gluten-free.
Note: I used dried dill and parsley because when I returned I had nothing in the fridge or cabinets, so using either fresh or dried works.
(I took some time off and returned to Greece. I’ve been back for about two days and trying to settle in but it’s difficult).
Wishing everyone a wonderful morning/afternoon/evening. Have a great weekend.
Green Bean Stew (Fasolakia)
Ingredients
- 500/1lb grams green beans fresh or frozen
- 1 leek diced
- 1 tbsp dried dill fresh dill
- 1 tbsp dried parsley fresh parsley
- 4 potatoes cut in halves
- ½ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1 carrot large sliced
- ½ liter water lukewarm
- salt
- pepper
- paprika optional
- 1½ tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- On low to medium heat add the potatoes, carrots, and diced leek into a saucepan and pour the olive oil. Stir until slightly tender.
- Add in the green beans, lukewarm water, and the rest of the ingredients, and cook on medium heat for about 45 minutes or until tomato sauce has thickened.
- Serve hot or cold with feta cheese and bread.
KALI MAS OREXI!! 🙂
