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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Fasolakia Yiahni (Greek Braised Green Beans)

    Fasolakia Yiahni (Greek Braised Green Beans)

    Published: Oct 19, 2020 · Last updated: Oct 20, 2020 by Marissa · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    A classic entree that can be enjoyed year-round, fasolakia yiahni is a Greek dish of green beans braised with potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and herbs in an extra virgin olive oil base. This delicious recipe is vegan though it is typically served with feta and good crusty bread.

    Top-down view of cooked fasolakia yiahni in a stainless steel sauté pan with bread and feta cheese in the background.

    If someone were to ask me what comes to mind when talking about authentic Greek cuisine, this recipe is somewhere at the top of the list. Fasolakia yiahni is a Greek green bean stew that is usually labeled as a summer classic where green beans are bountiful, but this dish can be enjoyed all year round too! This meal was on a regular rotation for dinner growing up.

    Before continuing on with this recipe's tastiness though, here's a quick breakdown of what fasolakia yiahni translates to and how it's pronounced:

    • fasolakia/φασολάκια (fah-soh-LAH-kiah) = green beans 
    • yiahni/γιαχνί (yah-HNEE) = ragout, ragù, stew

    Top-down view of green beans in a blue bowl with tomatoes, potatoes, parsley, and pinch bowls of salt and pepper scattered around.

    Fasolakia Yiahni / Fasolakia me Patates / Fasolakia Lathera

    Most often, this dish is simply called fasolakia and any Greek will know exactly what meal you're referring to. While this is considered a stew in terms of cooking methods, the dish itself is completely vegan and has no meat (whereas most stews are a combination of meat and veggies). This is traditionally served with feta and bread, but if you do happen to be vegan, you can simply omit the feta.

    Of course, there are other names out there as well! This dish can also be known as fasolakia me patates (green beans with potatoes) or fasolakia lathera (green beans in oil).

    Prepared green beans, cubed potatoes, chopped tomatoes, sliced onions, and minced garlic in prep bowls.

    The Significance of Lathera in Greek Cooking

    Lathera (pronounced lah-theh-RAH, with a hard th) is a lot more than an alternative name for some braised green beans, though. It's a whole large category of Greek dishes that are (almost always) vegetables cooked in a base of extra virgin olive oil. It's the only fat that is used, hence the generous amount that it's typically called for.

    Most lathera recipes follow this simple and delicious process:

    • Good quality Greek extra virgin olive oil is always used as a base/cooking medium
    • Aromatics are sauteed
    • Tomatoes are added (canned or fresh, depending on the season and preference)
    • Vegetables of choice are added and braised until they are tender
    • Fresh herbs are added shortly before removing from heat
    • An additional drizzle of olive oil is added to the finished dish (an optional but recommended step)

    Cooked fasolakia yiahni in a stainless steel saute pan with bread and feta cheese in the background.

    A Healthy Main Course That's Easy to Prepare

    What I love about this traditional dish is that it's comforting, healthy, and vibrant in both flavors and color. You're essentially eating a generous portion of vegetables that are cooked in a healthy fat. As I stated above, this is traditionally served with good quality feta cheese (which is the perfect accompaniment flavor-wise and you get a little bit of protein too!) and crusty bread.

    Aside from prepping the ingredients, the cooking process itself has minimal hands-on time, making it a great weeknight option. This can be served hot or at room temperature (the latter is especially great if you make this during the hot summer months). 

    Cooked fasolakia yiahni in a gray bowl topped with feta cheese.

    Featured image: Cooked fasolakia yiahni in a gray bowl topped with feta cheese.

    Fasolakia Yiahni (Greek Braised Green Beans)

    4.75 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Greek
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Marissa

    Ingredients

    • ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 large sweet or yellow onion, thinly sliced
    • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 2-3 gold or red potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
    • 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, (or 2 large ripe heirloom tomatoes, chopped)
    • ⅔ cup water
    • 1 ¾ pounds green beans, cleaned and trimmed (very long pieces can be cut in half)
    • 3-4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

    Instructions

    • In a 4-quart sauté pan, heat most of the olive oil over medium heat, reserving ¼ cup for later.
    • Add the onions and sauté until soft and translucent; about five minutes.
    • Add the garlic and cinnamon, if using. Sauté until fragrant; about one minute.
    • Add the potatoes, tomatoes, one teaspoon sea salt, and some black pepper. Stir until everything is combined.
    • Add in the water and let come to a gentle boil. Top with green beans and sprinkle with a little more salt and black pepper.
    • Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and let simmer for 30 minutes.
    • Remove lid and stir in the softened green beans.
    • Cover again and let simmer an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through and beans are very tender.
    • Remove lid and stir in the parsley. Let cook an additional three minutes.
    • Remove from heat, taste, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to your liking.
    • Drizzle in the rest of the olive oil.
    • Serve with feta and good crusty bread.
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @omgfoodblog and hashtag it #omgfoodblog!

    Pinterest banner: Cooked fasolakia yiahni in a stainless steel saute pan with bread and feta cheese in the background.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea Howe says

      October 22, 2020 at 10:56 am

      Ohhh these sound so delicious! I love green beans so this is a fun new twist I can't wait to try

      Reply
    2. Connie says

      October 24, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness, this is almost exactly how my mother used to make this. She loved to saute 2 large diced carrots with the onions and garlic, and toss in a cinnamon stick for that extra aromatic flavoring. I almost forgot how delish this was, in process of making it right now. THANK YOU so much for delighting my childhood memories. Yassou!!!

      Reply
    3. Patricia says

      October 25, 2022 at 8:46 pm

      5 stars
      Tonight I made this Greek dish for the first time and it was delicious!!
      This recipe is a keeper. Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Patricia says

      November 06, 2022 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      I have just finished making this dish for the third time in as many weeks. Easy to prepare. It is so delicious and satisfying. Thank You!

      Reply

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    I'm Marissa, a loud Greek from Boston. My obsessions are food, dogs, video games, music, and Bob's Burgers. Read More →

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