I can’t imagine anything better than a rustic, homey Greek bean soup (fasolada) for a cold winter day. Healthy, simple and extra comforting, fasolada is undoubtedly the national Greek dish! This is the authentic recipe for Greek bean soup, a signature dish that has nurtured generations!
What is Fasolada (Greek bean soup)?
Fasolada is sometimes called the “national food” of the Greeks because it is so popular. There are also a lot of variations you can add to make it just the way you like it. It’s a simple recipe that focuses on beans and some extra ingredients for extra flavor.
Classic Greek Soup: One of the Most Popular Soup Types in Allof Greece Good for You: Tons of nutritious ingredients make it a great way to increase your vitamin and mineral intake
. Greek Bean Soup (
Fasolada) – Nutritional Facts Greek bean soup (Fasolada
) is highly nutritious and filling. Beans are rich in fiber, which when combined with water or liquid makes you feel full longer. Also high in protein, iron, and vitamin B, fasolada soup is perfect for that winter flu!
Olive oil, which is one of the vital ingredients of traditional Greek bean soup, is one of the main foods associated with the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and many books have been written about its health benefits.
Olive oil, when consumed raw, manages to preserve all its precious vitamins, so when preparing this Greek bean soup, add olive oil towards the end of the cooking time. This will also help the soup become thicker and creamier.
Tip: Make sure you use extra virgin olive oil, which is sure to elevate the flavor.
Key ingredients of Greek Bean Soup
:
You’ll want the right beans (see below) so that the soup has the right consistency and flavor
.
Vegetables: Onions, carrots and celery are my choices for vegetables, all sautéed with olive oil. Tomato paste is added to enhance the flavor and you can add a pinch of paprika if desired.
<img src="https://www.mygreekdish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Beans-for-Greek-bean-soup-fasolada-683×1024.jpeg" alt="Ingredients for Greek Bean Soup Recipe (
Fasolada)” />
Select the Right Type
of Beans for Your Greek Bean Soup – Tips For a Greek
Bean Soup (fasolada), you should use dried white beans, but for the perfect Greek bean soup, you should use some fresh dried beans that haven’t been around for a long time time.
If the beans are rancid you will have to boil them for a long time and even then they will not reach the desired texture. So how can you select the best beans to make your Greek bean soup?
First of all, the whiter the beans, the better. If the beans have a slightly yellow color, that means they’ve been lying for too long and will be difficult when cooked.
The second thing to keep in mind is that the beans are smooth on the outside, do not peel and have not swelled. If you select the right beans, then you won’t have to soak them overnight, which makes this recipe much faster to prepare!
Key Preparation Tips
This super simple fasolada recipe only needs two main steps to complete:
Prepare the ingredients Cooking the soup
- Prepare the ingredients
- the soup
for
Place the beans in a saucepan with plenty of cold water to cover them, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and boil for 30-35 minutes, or until somewhat soft. Drain in a sieve and set aside.
Cut the onion, celery and carrots into small pieces. In a large skillet, add 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil and chopped vegetables. Sauté for about 2 minutes before adding the tomato paste and cooking for another minute.
Cook Greek Bean Soup
Add the steamed beans to the pan and enough boiling water to top with a little more, then mix lightly. Simmer for about 35 minutes until the beans are soft, adding the lid halfway through cooking.
When the vegetables are almost ready, add the last serving of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook for a few more minutes until the soup becomes thick and creamy.
Can you add
extra ingredients?
You can definitely add other ingredients in your fasolada soup depending on what you enjoy. If you want to add some meat, then diced golden sausage is a good option that works well with beans.
You can also add some extra vegetables or something like corn to the mix. Or for a minestrone-style soup, add a cup of small pasta like kouskousaki.
How to Make Greek Bean Soup
in the Slow Cooker Slow cookers
are ideal for larger batches and where you have a little time to let it cook. The process is very similar as you want to sauté the vegetables first to flavor them.
Add them with beans,
tomato paste, and paprika if you use them along with enough water to cover the beans about an inch
.
Add 1/2 cup olive oil and season and then cook over high heat for 6 hours. During cooking time, use a spoon to stir and crush the beans a little so that the soup thickens.
Greek bean soup in
the Instant Pot
Similarly, with the Instant Pot, use the sautéing function to reserve the vegetables, adding the tomato and spices. Add the beans and water and then switch to manual mode for 40 minutes. Make sure the pot is sealed.
When cooked, make a natural release for 10 minutes or until the pressure pin drops. Add 1/2 cup olive oil and return to stir-fry mode to simmer for 5 minutes before serving.
Prepare ahead
and store
You can easily increase the batch size of this recipe and store some in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it by letting it cool completely and then add it to airtight containers. Remember to leave some space at the top of the bowl for the soup to expand.
Keep it there for up to 3 months and thaw well before heating it to eat. You may need a little more water as you heat it.
Serving Tips
Serve this delicious traditional Greek bean soup (fasolada) while still steaming hot with some Kalamata olives and feta cheese on the side and, of course, some crusty bread. Enjoy!
Do you like soups?
If you love a hearty soup as much as I do, these recipes below are perfect for a cold winter day!
- Traditional Greek meatball soup (Giouvarlakia / Youvarlakia) In egg and lemon sauce
- Traditional recipe for Magiritsa
- with lemon (Kotosoupa Avgolemono
- Greek chickpea
- soup)
Greek meat soup recipe (Kreatosoupa)
(Greek Easter soup) Greek recipe for chicken soup
)
soup recipe (Revithia) Greek lentil soup recipe (fake
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