What is fasolakia and how you can cook it

Fasolakia (Φασολακια), the Greek word for green beans, is an extremely popular dish in Greece. This is one of the simplest and tastiest meals you can make.  

In the summertime, which is when green beans are in season, you can find this at almost every taverna. Since most people travel to Greece during the summer months, you should have no problem finding this dish.

It can be served as a "one pot wonder" or added to the table as part of a more elaborate spread. It takes about half an hour cooking in 200 degrees. 

The ingredients are simple, you need half kilo of fresh green beans, some garlic, an onion graded, tomato past, olive oil, a tin of pealed tomatoes, salt and pepper.

This little wonder is relatively quick to make, but mostly easy and nourishing. 

Everybody will find it easy to be cooked. That says it all. Traditionally, this dish is made in the summer months where green beans are plentiful and tomatoes are at their peak. 

There are 2 methods for cooking the fasolakia:

In one of them if you like them heavy you fry first the grated onion with the garlic and as soon they will be brownish you pore 1 litter of water, hold up until is bubbled and after that include the green beans, the pealed tomatoes , 2 spoonful of tomato, paste salt and pepper and cook for 30 minutes.

The other way is to boil first the water and add all the above ingredients together. Additionally you can add potatoes together with the green beans. 

Use the salt and pepper according to your personal taste. The oily green beans (Fasolakia Ladera) is mostly a summer food because is not heavy, plus is a very healthy dish.

Green beans are a vegetable commonly eaten as a main dish or garnish in many dishes, prized for its sweet taste and nutritional properties important. 

Also, these vegetables are good for preparing healthy and nourishing recipes that are excellent for a good health and an optimal physical condition.

Did you know that green beans originate from South America and specifically from Peru? 

In Europe, they came from the Spaniards in the 16th century, while they traveled to the north of America, where they have been particularly sympathetic to this day, being one of the most important vegetables in the American diet.

The most classic and beloved recipe is green beans with tomato sauce or with potatoes (fasolakia me patates), which often make their appearance on the summer table. Next to them always goes bread and a little slice. 

With the beans, of course, you can prepare other dishes. For example, the classic recipe for green beans becomes richer if you add chicken or calf to buns. 

Soté, just like a warm salad with a little olive oil or butter, lemon, salt and chopped garlic, make a wonderful and healthy accompaniment to roast meat and chicken. 

In addition, boiled green beans can be added to other salads with various boiled vegetables and potato salad.

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

There are a lot of recipes in which fasolakia could be served. With olive oil, with tomato sauce or with potatoes, all of these recipes will be detailed on this website.

Here you can see a video example of a typical Greek green beans recipe:

If you’re looking for a great tasting vegetarian dish or just wanting to add a healthy side to a favorite meal, give Fasolakia a try!