Fasolakia - Greek Green bean & Vegetable Stew

This is one of my personal favourite family recipes and it holds a very special space in my heart. My yiayia (grandma) passed this fasolakia recipe on to me 5 years ago, back when I was a vegetarian, and I have been making it on repeat since. I vividly remember being in primary school and devouring this at my grandparents kitchen table with my two younger sisters and younger cousin the week before Greek Easter during lent.

This is a fantastic option for my plant-based and gluten free foody’s, and anybody who has an interest in flavour-packed, simple Greek cooking. PS. I have had many compliments when I have prepared this dish for dinner guests as an entree or side dish AND it requires very very little cooking abilities to perfect (which I love!).

Okay…here’s the recipe, enjoy!!

Serves: 4

Ingredients

500g green beans, fresh or frozen, ends/tips cut off

1 potato, peeled and roughly chopped into chunks

1 celery stick, roughly chopped

1 red pepper/capsicum, roughly chopped

1 carrot, roughly chopped

1 zucchini, roughly chopped

1 leak, thinly sliced

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

¼ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped  

4 tbs olive oil

1/2 can diced tomatoes (I love mutti) or 1/2 cup fresh tomatoes, grated with skin on

½ tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp paprika

¾ cup water

Method

1. Place oil, garlic, and leak in a medium sized pot over medium heat and sauté for one minute.  

2. Add carrot, celery, pepper/capsicum, and potato to the pot. Sauté for approximately 2 minutes to caramelise the vegetables.

3. Add the beans and continue stirring the vegetables in the pot for another 5 minutes until they begin to soften.

4. Add the zucchini, tomato, and parsley and cook for another 2 minutes.

5. Add the water, spices, and put the lid on the pot approximately 3 minutes or until the beans turn a vibrant green colour. 

7. Take the lid off the pot and bring the vegetables to a boil.

8. Reduce the heat to low and cook for a further 20 minutes.

9. Enjoy with feta cheese, more parsley and fresh bread or rice.