Ancient Bean Soup Fasolada Food

FASOLADA (GREEK WHITE BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a soup pot over medium high heat.
• Sauté onion, celery, carrot, garlic and salt for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add tomato paste and stir for one minute.
• Add crushed tomatoes, beans, broth, oregano, rosemary, chili flakes and bay leaves. Stir well. Bring to low boil then simmer on low to medium heat for 30-40 minutes, until carrots are soft.
• Remove one cup of beans to a bowl and mash with a spoon. Stir back into pot.
• Add remaining 4 Tbsp olive oil and whisk into soup.
• Serve in bowl with garnishings (see note 2).

TRADITIONAL GREEK BEAN SOUP RECIPE (FASOLADA)

Steps:

• To prepare the fasolada (Greek bean soup), place the beans in a saucepan with plenty of cold water to cover them. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down to medium and parboil for 30-35 minutes, until slightly tender. Drain in colander and set aside.
• Finely chop the onion, celery and carrots. Add 3-4 tbsps of olive oil in a deep pan, add the chopped vegetables and blend. Sauté for about 2 minutes and add the tomato paste and continue sautéing for a minute.
• Add the parboiled beans in the pan and pour in enough boiling water to cover the beans and little bit more and blend lightly. Place the lid on and simmer the fasolada for about 35 minutes, until the beans are tender.
• Towards the end of cooking time, pour in the remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Boil for a few more minutes, until the soup becomes thick and creamy.
• Serve this traditional Greek bean soup (fasolada) while still steaming hot with a few Kalamata olives and of course some village bread. Enjoy!

FASOLATHA (GREEK BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Soak the beans in water over night.
• Strain the water and place the beans in a pot with new water.
• Bring to a boil, remove from heat; strain water.
• Replace the beans, add the rest of the ingredients and enough water to cover all the ingredients and simmer covered for an hour.

FASOLADA (GREEK BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Cook the beans until tender. Drain.
• In a soup pot, add beans and enough water to cover beans plus 3 extra cups of water. Bring to a simmer. Add remaining ingredients, season to taste with salt and pepper, and simmer until vegetables are cooked through, and soup has thickened, about 20 minutes. (greeks like soft veggies, you may want your soup cooked slightly less if you like crispier veggies). This soup only improves over the next few days, so go ahead and make it way before you plan to eat it.
• Note: At the table, I like to serve this with the choice of regular Tabasco, and the green (jalapeno) version, for people to add to their bowls as per their liking. I like a couple of drops of the red Tabasco, and a bit heavier on the green for more herbal notes. Also, for a more European flavour, a generous sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese at the table is divine.

OLD FASHIONED BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash beans, discarding imperfect ones. Cover beans with 2 1/2 quarts water; refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• Next day, turn beans and water (there should be 6 cups) into 6-quart kettle.
• Add ham hocks, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat, and simmer, covered tightly, about 2 hours, or until the beans are almost tender.
• Add mashed potato, celery, carrot, salt and pepper. Return to boiling; simmer, covered, about 1 hour longer, or until beans are tender.
• Remove ham hocks; cut off meat. Dice meat, and return to kettle. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped parsley.

FASOLADA (GREEK NAVY BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Leave beans to soak over night.
• Chop carrots, onions and celery ribs (with leaves) and add to pot with garlic sauteing in EVOO.
• Add tomato paste, sauce, and whole tomato, crush in hand.
• Add navy beans.
• Add enough water to cover, and remaining EVOO.
• Boil covered for an hour, turn way down heat, and simmer at least 4 hours. The longer, the better.
• Enjoy with additional EVOO on top, crusty bread, and a good hunk of feta.