Greek Green Beans Fasolakia

Fasolakia: Greek Green Beans

Egyptians call it Fasolia. Greeks call it Fasolakia. More accurately, Fasolakia Lathera, or braised green beans. Actually, the word Lathera means, “ones with oil,” and it describes a whole category of Greek dishes where vegetables are meant to literally swim in quality extra virgin olive oil. Nothing better, in my opinion. You can find similar olive oil-heavy dishes in other parts of the Mediterranean as well. For example, in Turkey, they have zeytinyağlı yemekler, which means “olive oil dishes”(like these braised leeks with garlic).

These Greek green beans are braised in tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil with onions, garlic and spices. Then, they are finished with lemon juice, fresh herbs, and more extra virgin olive oil. So, unlike crunchy steamed or sauteed green beans, these Greek green beans are velvety, tender, but certainly not mushy. There are as many variations of traditional Greek green beans as you can imagine. Every household has it’s twist–like my version of sautéed green beans, which were inspired by this recipe. Here, I used potatoes to give the beans more substance as a vegan entree.

What to serve with Greek Green Beans

All you really need is some good Greek pita bread or your favorite rustic bread to sop up the sauce. But, to serve these green beans simply as a side, you can add rice and your favorite protein like grilled chicken or lamb. I typically prepare a simple Greek salad or this 3-ingredient Mediterranean salad to start the meal.