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    Home » Greek Main Dishes

    Fasolakia

    Published: Aug 13, 2013 · Updated: Aug 14, 2020 by Peter G · This post may contain affiliate links · 19 Comments

    17 shares
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    Greek style fasolakia

    Along with spanakorizo and kounoupidi kapama (braised cauliflower) fasolakia  (Greek word for green beans) are one of the simplest and tastiest meals you can make.

    It can be served as a "one pot wonder" or added to the table as part of a more elaborate spread.

    Traditionally, this dish is made in the summer months where green beans are plentiful and tomatoes are at their peak.

    However there is nothing stopping you enjoying fasolakia in the cooler months. Think of it as a hearty vegetarian braise.

    green beans
    Greek style fasolakia
    fasolakia
    Greek fasolakia with feta cheese

    In the many times I enjoyed this growing up, my mum would usually add potatoes to make it more of a meal. And boy was it filling!

    In today's version I've opted to use sweet potatoes. I was a little wary of using them initially but in the end I'm glad I did. The sweet potatoes may have softened a lot more than regular potatoes but they added a pleasant additional sweetness to the whole profile of the dish.

    I've used a whole lot pf parsley in this plus I've added a little mint and dill.

    Serve it up with a block of feta cheese on the side and that other Greek favourite-crusty bread! It's mandatory to use the bread to wipe up all that beautiful sauce.

    Greek style braised green beans
    Greek style braised beans

    FASOLAKIA-BRAISED GREEN BEANS RECIPE

    Serves 4-6

    Ingredients:

    • ½ cup olive oil
    • 1 onion finely diced
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 x 400 gram can of tinned tomatoes
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 large sweet potato chopped into even, rough chunks
    • 500 grams green beans, ends trimmed
    • 1 cup flat leaf parsley finely chopped
    • 3 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped
    • 1-2 tablespoon freshly chopped dill
    • 2 cups water approx.
    • salt and pepper to season

    Instructions

    1. Heat the olive oil over a medium high heat in a large saucepan and add the onion and garlic and cook till soft (approx 2-3 mins). Add the tinned tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for another 5 mins.
    2. Add the sweet potatoes and stir thoroughly to combine. Add the green beans ON TOP of the potatoes and do not stir.
    3. Add the parsley, mint and dill and enough water (depending on the size of your pot-mine needed 2 and a bit) to just cover the beans. Allow to cook for 15 mins, stir all the ingredients, season with salt and pepper and lower the heat to a low setting. Cook for a further 30 mins (45 mins in total) till the beans are tender.
    4. Serve immediately with feta cheese and plenty of bread.
    chopping green beans

    More Traditional Greek Main Dish Recipes

    • Arakas Latheros (Greek Peas With Potatoes)
    • Makaronia Me Kima (Greek Spaghetti With a Meat Sauce)
    • Greek Slow Roasted Lamb
    • Briam - Greek Roasted Vegetables

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Emma Galloway

      August 13, 2013 at 10:04 pm

      Yum! Love everything about this Peter.

      Reply
    2. john | heneedsfood

      August 13, 2013 at 10:17 pm

      I've been seeing so many green and yellow beans at markets here in the States lately. Love that you've teamed them with sweet potato here. Delicious, I'm sure.

      Reply
    3. Angela Roberts

      August 13, 2013 at 11:36 pm

      I love it when you talk Greek to us. Green beans are hitting the market right now and I can't wait to make this.

      Reply
    4. Rosa

      August 13, 2013 at 11:56 pm

      One of my favorite ways of preparing green beans! That is such a delightful dish. Love your pictures, as always.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
    5. What should I eat for breakfas

      August 14, 2013 at 8:52 am

      We eat it like this in my home as well. I don't think it is popular in Poland, but it was in my home 🙂

      Reply
    6. Lisa @ Greek Vegetarian

      August 14, 2013 at 11:48 am

      Oh this is one of my favourite Greek dishes, especially with a cook chunk of feta. Will definitely be trying it with sweet potato next time – what a great idea!

      Reply
    7. joannova

      August 15, 2013 at 12:09 am

      Wow! Your blog looks fabulous ... so well laid out, slick and magazine-like. Just gorgeous!
      P.S. I had almost the same thing for dinner last night but instead of sweet potato, I put the beans and tomatoes over a nice slab of Italian bread.

      Reply
    8. Helen (grabyourfork)

      August 15, 2013 at 3:04 am

      I'd be totally mopping everything up with fat chunks of bread. And I think fasolakia might be my word of the week. So satisfying to say. lolol

      Reply
    9. Krista

      August 15, 2013 at 8:31 pm

      This sounds so delicious! It just hit me that I've planted a ridiculous amount of beans in my garden this year, so I'll DEFINITELY be able to try this. 🙂

      Reply
    10. Maureen

      August 16, 2013 at 2:14 am

      I LOVE this dish! I always choose it when we eat at a Greek restaurant. I will make these tomorrow!

      Reply
    11. Kathy Kordalis

      August 18, 2013 at 4:30 am

      Yum .. Memories KK

      Reply
    12. Renee

      August 18, 2013 at 7:51 pm

      Made this this afternoon to have as a side dish to some lamb cutlets. Tasted just like that which I have had in Greece. Delish I can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
    13. MJS

      August 28, 2013 at 12:38 am

      I served this up with the Roast Chicken with Orzo-Kota me Kritharaki - just perfect for the current week in Northern Hemisphere Ireland where the summer evenings are starting to seep into Autumn. Not too heavy and totally tasty - even for leftovers the next day!

      Reply
    14. Sara (Belly Rumbles)

      September 06, 2013 at 7:07 pm

      Such a great dish that would go along with so many others easily. I agree with Helen, I would be mopping up all traces of that sauce with crusty bread.

      Reply
    15. Bek Watters

      September 23, 2013 at 10:51 pm

      I made this tonight, so yummy! Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
    16. Alexandra V. Jones

      September 27, 2013 at 3:02 am

      Such an interesting take with the sweet potatoes! Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing! Come by and say hi to a fellow Greek at Lollipopsicle.net!

      Reply
    17. Jas The Gluten Free Scallywag

      December 04, 2013 at 2:58 pm

      Such a delicious dish and I love the sweet potato addition, plus now I have a recipe that I can make - yum!

      Reply
    18. kouzinacousins.com

      December 08, 2013 at 12:32 am

      I've never thought to add sweet potatoes, but that's a great idea. Love your photos…

      Reply
    19. Beauty Follower

      January 08, 2014 at 4:31 am

      With feta cheese are super delicious!

      Reply

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