Last week I went to visit my dad and I was lucky enough to be able to pick through his giant vegetable garden. All of the crazy stalks and vines are finally starting to produce some fresh crops. I got a big bounty of cherry tomatoes and a few types of green beans, as well as a bundle of parsley. These three ingredients make up a popular Greek meal called fasolakai so I already knew what I was going to make when I got home.
Fasolakai is a braised green bean dish that is naturally meat-free. I added some potatoes to my recipe to give a little more substance. You can serve this over some rice, alongside a salad, with some pita bread, or simply enjoy it alone as a stew. This is an easy and healthy way to use up some of your abundance of garden goodies.
Fasolakai is a braised green bean dish that is naturally meat-free. I added some potatoes to my recipe to give a little more substance. You can serve this over some rice, alongside a salad, with some pita bread, or simply enjoy it alone as a stew. This is an easy and healthy way to use up some of your abundance of garden goodies.
YIELDS
1–2 servings
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
TOTAL TIME
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 shallot
- 2 tsps tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsps oregano
- 1/2 tsps paprika
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp clove
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1 1/2 cup fresh green beans
- 2 cups potatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- juice from half of one lemon
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Heat the olive oil in a cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallot and sauté for a minute or two.
2. Add the tomato paste and spices and stir well, sautéing for another minute or so.
3. Add tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, water, and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, cover (you can use tinfoil), and then place in the oven about 40 minutes, until the water starts to evaporate, and the potatoes can be pierced with a fork. Spoon the liquid over the beans and potatoes halfway through.
4. Remove from oven and stir in lemon juice and parsley before serving.
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Photo: Lauren Sacerdote
