GREEN BEANS SLOWLY COOKED IN TOMATO, OLIVE OIL, AND HERBS UNTIL TENDER AND FULL OF FLAVOR
Fasolakia is a classic Greek dish where green beans are slowly cooked with tomato, olive oil, and herbs. It’s one of those meals that shows up all the time in Greek homes. There’s also a heartier version of this dish made with meat, known as fasolakia me kreas.
One of the best things about fasolakia is how simple it is. Just a handful of ingredients, but it comes together into something really flavorful. The green beans soften and take on the tomato and olive oil, and the onions add just enough sweetness to balance everything out.
This is one of the main lathera dishes.
One thing that surprises many people about lathera dishes is the amount of olive oil used. It may seem like a lot, but the oil gives the vegetables their rich flavor and makes the dish very satisfying, so a small portion can go a long way. In traditional Greek home cooking, olive oil isn’t just a seasoning — it’s a main ingredient.
It’s a simple way to make green beans, but it has a completely different flavor than what most people expect. This is the kind of food I grew up eating.
The key is using good ingredients. Fresh green beans should be bright, firm, and clean. Ripe tomatoes make a big difference here, and the better the olive oil, the better the dish turns out.
Onions are cooked down first until soft, then garlic and tomato go in. The green beans are added after that and cooked slowly until everything comes together.
You can add a potato or a carrot if you want, or just use whatever needs to be cooked from the fridge. There’s also a version of this with lamb that I’ll make another time.
The batch I made today had a mix of herbs from the garden. It was probably the last chance to use the mint, so I added some of that. The oregano is perfect right now, so I used both Greek oregano and a little Syrian oregano (za’atar). The parsley had grown back, so that went in too. The dill is done for the season, and honestly it would have been lost under the stronger herbs anyway.
This one came out a little more herbal than usual, but it smells incredible.
Here’s the recipe.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or medium pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the onions and garlic in until tender.3/4 cup olive oil, 2 large onions, 3 cloves garlic
- Mix the green beans, tomatoes, herbs, salt, and into the skillet. Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking 45 minutes, or until beans are soft. Stir every 15 minutes2 pounds fresh green beans, 3 large tomatoes or about 5 romas, 1/2 cup parsley, small handful of fresh mint OR, sprig or 2 of fresh oregano OR, fresh dill, salt to taste, pinch of sugar
- Once it’s done, remove it from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Yes, it really is that easy. It doesn’t look like much, but once you’ve had it, it’s one of those dishes you keep coming back to.
You can have fasolakia on its own as a main dish, or serve it alongside grilled meat or fish. It also works really well with something like Greek lemon potatoes or another vegetable dish like Briam.
Fasolakia is a delicious and healthy dish that is easy to make and perfect for any occasion. Whether you serve it as a main dish or as a side dish, you will love fasolakia. It’s a great way to enjoy the flavors of Greece and the Mediterranean.
OPA!
3 responses to “Fasolakia – Greek Braised Green Beans.”
Will give recipe a try.sounds great
[…] me kreas is the meaty cousin to the widely loved fasolakia recipe I featured a few weeks ago. The meat adds a depth of flavor and that protein hearyness, […]
[…] Fasolakia – A popular Greek dish made with green beans cooked in a tomato sauce with onions, garlic, and herbs. Fasolakia is a healthy and flavorful dish that is perfect for a vegetarian meal. This one is here! […]