We love green beans around our house! We make them for just about every holiday gathering but our family’s favorite recipe is Fasolakia (Greek Green Beans in Tomato Sauce). It’s an especially delicious dish in the summer when the beans we use are fresh from our garden! Even in the cooler months we always opt for fresh over canned beans.
During our summer harvest, we make sure to freeze an abundance of beans to eat throughout the winter. But if you don’t have access to garden fresh veggies, you can definitely find them in the produce section of your local grocery store. Enjoy this dish as a main meal (perfect for meatless Monday!) or as an accompaniment to your main dish.
This recipe falls under the category “Ladera” which means to only cook in olive oil, using no other type of fat. Make sure you use a great quality olive oil, as it really makes the difference. We prefer to use Extra Virgin Olive Oil imported from Greece, which we find at our local Mediterranean grocery store. This also makes it a great dish for vegans!
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Slow cooking the beans makes them more tender and sweet mixed with onions, garlic, dill, and tomatoes. This method also allows the flavors to marinate together, making each bite as tasty as the last. Enjoy!
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Fasolakia (Green Beans in Tomato Sauce)
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 onion roughly chopped
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes or chopped fresh tomatoes in the summer
- ¾ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp allspice
- 1 tbsp fresh dill
Instructions
- Wash, trim and drain beans in a colander.
- Heat half the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent and tender. Stir in the garlic, pepper, dill, and allspice. Now add the tomatoes, tomato sauce and remaining olive oil. Mix to incorporate all ingredients.
- Add the green beans and stir until beans are coated in the olive oil/tomato mixture.
- Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 45 minutes or until beans are tender. Check the pan occasionally while cooking to make sure there is still liquid, you can add some hot water if need be. Can be served right away or let cool to room temperature.
My mother made this growing up
Sandra, we also grew up enjoying this dish on many occasions! It’s simple, but yet so flavorful. Thank you for following along.