Greek-style Braised Green Beans With Potatoes

The warm weather we have been enjoying lately made me want to hold on to summer flavors just a little longer, so today I am sharing the recipe for Greek-style braised green beans with potatoes with you.  This is a simple, comfort dish of delicious vegetables gently simmered in a flavorful tomato and olive oil sauce.

This dish is known in Greek as “φασολάκια λαδερά με πατάτες” and is part of a whole category of meat-free Greek dishes where vegetables and fresh herbs are slowly braised in an olive oil and tomato sauce, or, in an olive oil and lemon sauce.  These dishes are called “lathera” (“λαδερά”), which means cooked in olive oil, and they are enjoyed as a vegetarian main course with plenty of crusty bread and Feta cheese.

The role of Vegetables in the Mediterranean Diet

The cuisine of many Mediterranean countries–especially Greece–is considered plant-forward, no matter the season. I read somewhere that Greeks consume the most vegetables per person in the whole world.  That does not surprise me.  With so many delicious vegetable dish choices available, you do not realize that you are missing meat!   Vegetables are a central part of the healthy Mediterranean diet because they are full of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and good fats (in the form of extra virgin olive oil). These dishes are filling, very satisfying and of course, also very economical.

The ingredients

For this recipe I used fresh green beans, garden tomatoes, fresh parsley, new potatoes, red onion, and, of course, olive oil.  In fact, this recipe uses lots of olive oil–this is not an ingredient on which you can skimp!  When I cannot find good tomatoes, I just use a good quality can of crushed tomatoes.  When I cannot find fresh green beans, the slender, frozen ones make an excellent substitution. These easy substitutions make this recipe a dish that we enjoy all year ’round!

 Who to make the Greek-style braised green beans with potatoes in two steps

Step 1:  Sauté the onion and add the green beans and potatoes

Step 2: Add the tomatoes, parsley, seasoning and hot water. Simmer until the vegetables are tender.

What to serve with it

Besides serving it as a main vegetarian dish, with lots of crusty bread to soak up the sauce, you can also serve it as a delicious side dish.  It goes very well next to these flavorful Chicken Kebabs, or my  Lamb Sliders, or even these Grilled Beef Kebabs 

Traditional Greek-style Green Beans With Potatoes

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

A delicious and nutritious meal with few ingredients and assertive Greek flavors

Author: Marilena Leavitt

Recipe type: Vegetarian Main Course

Cuisine: Greek

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 red onion chopped
• 1 lb. fresh green beans
• 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut in half and sliced into ¼” slices
• 6 medium tomatoes, grated in food processor (or 1 cup crushed tomatoes, or passata)
• ½ cup fresh parsley, minced
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ tsp freshly grated pepper
• 2 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. Clean and trim the green beans.
2. Place a medium pot over medium heat and heat the olive oil. Sauté the onion until soft and stir in the potatoes and the beans. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes to coat with the oil without browning.
3. Next add the tomatoes, the parsley, salt and pepper, and mix well.
4. To the pot add enough hot water so the beans and the potatoes are half covered.
5. Replace the lid and simmer for about 40-45 minutes. Every 10 minutes or so, shake the pan slightly to ensure even cooking and to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot. At the end of the cooking, most liquid in the pot should be reduced and only a little sauce should remain.
6. Remove from the heat and let it sit, uncovered, for at least 10-15 minutes.
7. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

3.5.3240

Coming up on the blog

As the weather gets colder, I have a series of autumn recipes which I am planning and are waiting in my drafts to be featured on the blog.  Before I can share them with you, however, there is the recipe testing, the necessary adjustments, the styling and photography, the editing, and, of course, the post writing.  What can you expect on the blog in the coming month?  Well, there is a comforting seasonal risotto, a hearty soup perfect for the cold months, a savory pastry recipe, and a wonderful dessert too.  I cannot wait to share them all with you, so stay tuned!