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9 November 2017 By Jane Kotsiris and Kenton Kotsiris 7 Comments

Fassolatha | Greek Bean Soup

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fassolatha | Greek bean soup is a heart and healthy Greek bean soup that some say is Greece's national dish!

Yes, the coveted, “fassolatha” | φασολαδα (pronounced: fah-so-LAH-thah) – the national dish of Greece!

This recipe has roots that travel all the way back to ancient Greece. One can enjoy this soup is the same way Homer or Plato would have (minus the tomatoes), with stories and philosophical thoughts…or you can just enjoy it with good company and a smile on your face.

Fassolatha | Greek Bean Soup

Back in ancient times, beans were thought to be extremely beneficial for the body.  They were easy to grow in the villages throughout Greece, and as a result remain a popular dish to this day. Also, for this reason, there are many variations of this dish – each specific to a region of Greece. So if you find yourself traveling there, be sure to order fassolatha from different areas and taste their interpretation of it!

Alright, enough with the history lessons, that’s what our cultural posts are for.

Greek Bean Soup DeconstructedJane and I finally decided to make this Greek bean soup for two reasons: it’s cold now with fall here and a site wouldn’t be complete without having Greece’s national dish.

What both Jane and I liked about this creation is that it’s not only delicious, but also wonderfully healthy!

The beans provide a great source of: protein, healthy carbs, and fiber. And for those wondering, yes this is a vegetarian dish as well!

We decided to make some fresh Kalamata Olive Bread to serve a long side this soup and we think the two tasted fantastic together.

While this was Jane and mine first time making this, we were able to pull it off in one go and have it taste amazing! Fellow cooks will know that feeling of joy when that happens. We normally make dishes 2 sometimes 3 times before they make it on here.

So, give Greece’s national dish a go and let us know what you think!!

Also, as it says in this Greek bean soup recipe – you’ll need to soak the beans for at least 12hrs prior to making this Greek bean soup  recipe. If you don’t the beans may turn out to be too hard.

Best,

Kenton

Fassolatha | Greek Bean Soup
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
2 hours
Total time
2 hours 15 mins
 
fassolatha - Famous bean soup of Greece
Author: Kenton & Jane
Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: Greek
Serves: 5-6
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Great northern beans (may sub for navy beans), soaked overnight
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces) - mashed to puree
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stocks, chopped
  • 5 cups of water (may need more)
  • 4 springs thyme
  • 4 springs parsley
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
Instructions
  1. Once beans have soaked for at least 12hrs, drain and add to soup pot.
  2. Fill pot with enough water to cover beans.
  3. Turn on to med-high heat and bring to boil.
  4. Simmer for 30min, until tender (some foaming may occur).
  5. Remove from heat, drain beans, and set aside.
  6. In soup pot, add a little olive oil and chopped onions, cook until translucent, 5-7min.
  7. Add tomato puree, carrots, celery, and 5 cups of water to onion mix.
  8. Add beans - add more water to cover beans if needed.
  9. Add thyme, parsley, Sea salt, and pepper and bay leaf.
  10. Cover and bring to boil.
  11. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 1-2hrs, until thick and beans are soft.
  12. Enjoy this delicious Greek bean soup !
Notes
*This recipe assumes you've already let the beans soak in water for at least 12hrs!! If you're short on time, substitute dry beans for canned, and if needed, reduce simmer time accordingly.
Also, during simmer, you may need to add more water if it gets low.
3.5.3226

 

 

 

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Filed Under: All Greek Recipes, Blog, Favorites, Greek Soups Tagged With: ares, bean, bean soup, favorites, soup, vegetarian

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Hi! We’re Kenton & Jane. Lemon & Olives is a site dedicated to exploring Greek recipes and following the healthy Mediterranean lifestyle. We also explore the culture and travel destinations of Greece. So whether you’re Greek, interesting in Greek food, or searching for a childhood recipe – let’s connect and explore together! Oh, we hope you are hungry.

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Comments

  1. Melody says

    2 December 2013 at 7:36 am

    What size can of tomatoes did you use?

    Reply
    • Kenton Kotsiris says

      2 December 2013 at 9:32 am

      Hi Melody! We used one 14.5 ounce can.

      Reply
      • Melody says

        2 December 2013 at 9:42 am

        Thank you so much! I figured that was it. Guess what we’re having for dinner this evening?

        Reply
        • Kenton Kotsiris says

          2 December 2013 at 10:20 am

          Fassolatha?! 🙂 If you have any questions before/during feel free to write to us by using the contact form above, or for a quicker reply, you can write to us on Facebook. Let us know how it turns out!

          Reply
  2. cONNOR says

    14 April 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Look good but… It can’t *quite* be the same soup that Plato ate because tomatoes were introduced to Europe from the America’s in the 15th C – some 1800 years after Plato! 😉

    Reply
    • Kenton Kotsiris says

      15 April 2014 at 5:51 pm

      Hi Connor, I must admit, you got us! I’ve spent the past 40 minutes researching your statements. I was amazing how late in the game Greece was when it came to cookings with tomatoes. So, let’s just say it’s the same minus the tomatoes, which I’ll add in the text above 😉

      Reply
  3. Hazel says

    18 June 2017 at 8:58 pm

    I am so glad I found your site. I look forward to trying your recipes

    Reply

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Hi! We’re Kenton & Jane of Lemon & Olives. This blog is dedicated to exploring Greek food and culture, the Mediterranean lifestyle, and traveling Greece. We’ve collected many Greek recipes over the years from Greece and family members, and we’re still learning as we go! This blog is our way of documenting our journey…read more

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