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Rustic Greek Beans (Fasolia Gigantes)

Rustic Greek Beans (Fasolia Gigantes).A rich bean stew high in protein, fibre and iron. Easy to make and very tasty. Serve with crusty bread and salad or steamed vegetables, Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.



Beans are a really important part of a vegetarian or vegan diet. They are a great source of protein, fibre and iron. They're really filling too and low in fat, so pretty darn perfect.

We love baked beans on toast, adding a variety of beans to our chilli, making them into pate, mixing beans through salads or in a simple dish like this fasolia gigantes, which is basically a simple Greek bean dish.

This is originally a peasant dish. As you travel the world you'll find many local veggie dishes started out this way. They were cheap and would feed a family easily. I'm not complaining. To me this is a feast.



Rustic Greek Beans (Fasolia Gigantes).A rich bean stew high in protein, fibre and iron. Easy to make and very tasty. Serve with crusty bread and salad or steamed vegetables, Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.


Graham and I first had this dish in a Greek Cypriot home in the hills just outside Paphos in South Cyprus. The family served meat and fish dishes too, but we happily tucked in to this bean dish with salad and freshly baked village bread.

When I got home I had to recreate it and I've been tweaking it over the years. It's easy to make, frugal and full of flavour.

Love this? Try Greek Spanakopita next.


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Rustic Greek Beans (Fasolia Gigantes).A rich bean stew high in protein, fibre and iron. Easy to make and very tasty. Serve with crusty bread and salad or steamed vegetables, Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Rustic Greek Beans (Fasolia Gigantes)
A peasant Greek Bean Stew made with cannellini beans. A great family meal that's easy to pull together and very tasty.Serve with salad and crusty bread or with a selection of veg.
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 onions, halved and sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 800g cooked cannellini beans (tinned are fine just rinse well)
  • 800g chopped tomatoes (tinned are fine)
  • 4 tsp dried oregano
  • 3 tsp dried thyme
  • 3 tbsp tomato puree
  • 2 tbsp agave nectar (or honey)
  • 1-2 tsp chilli flakes
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 100ml white wine (red would be good for a richer flavour)
  • a good grinding of salt and black pepper
Instructions
1. In a large pot saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil until the onion is soft. 2. Add the beans and tomatoes.3. Add all the spices, vinegar and wine.4. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 30-40 minutes until the sauce is rich.5. Season with salt and pepper.6. Enjoy.
Details
Total time:
Yield: Serves 3-4 



Here are a few of our favourite bean recipes:

Veggie bean recipes - Kidney Bean Falafel, Bean, Spinach & Red Pepper Quesadillas and Quinoa Lentil & Bean Salad. Full of protein, fibre and iron.



Veggie bean recipes - Kidney Bean Falafel, Bean, Spinach & Red Pepper Quesadillas and Quinoa Lentil & Bean Salad. Full of protein, fibre and iron.

39 comments

  1. This looks so hearty and delicious. Definitely a vegetarian recipe that will keep you full!

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  2. Yum! These make me nostalgic for childhood! Love this meal -- thank you for sharing! You are doing Greek families everywhere proud :)

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    1. What a kind thing to say Nicole. I must have got it right then :)

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  3. Sometimes I just need warm comforting food like this (which I comepletely forget about). Thanks for the reminder.

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    1. It's easy to forget the simple dishes Bintu, but they are good and worth making regularly.

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  4. Its crazy how many peasant dishes Ive come to love over the years. I love how they are all so filling and usually are so much healthier than what I normally eat. This looks fantastic and can't wait to try it;)

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    1. They are always the best, but then they are old recipes made again and again, usually with lots of veg.

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  5. Yum!! These greek beans sound amazing!! Thanks for the recipe, I can't wait to try it!

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  6. What a lovely recipe! It looks so rich and good. I like that you can just let it simmer until you're ready to eat it.

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  7. I never think of beans when I think of Greek food but this sounds delicious and beautiful with the wine in as well!

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  8. Yum, I love a good bean dish! You could serve this with all sorts.

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  9. This for me is the absolute best bit of travelling, getting to find all those local dishes that are more a family history than a written down recipe. Thanks for sharing Jac, am off to pin it :)
    Janie x

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    1. Yes they are the best recipes rather than what they think tourists expect.

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  10. Beans are a huge part of our diet, and there is so much that you can do with them, like you have shown here!
    I love it when I find naturally vegan/veggie dishes abroad, without having to order off the menu.

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  11. Beans are a staple for our house too as I'm feeding a vegetarian who does alternate vegan months. Never heard of this and KP's family are originally Cypriot. It sounds right up our street. Delicious

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    1. Are they Greek or Turkish Cypriot Sally? We had it in a home in the south and as a side dish in the north.

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  12. Greek baked beans. Lookin' good. Recently started adding more pulses to our diets. My daughter loves them, now only to convince my son!

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    1. Yes I suppose they are. Although they were served in a big bowl alongside salad.

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  13. This looks so comforting and hearty especially with a big piece of crusty bread :) Any suggestions on what I might be able to substitute for the wine?

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    1. You could leave it out Brie, I just think it gives a richer flavour and the alcohol is burned off during cooking.

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  14. I love cooking beans and like how varied they are in utility. Travelling is fun for this and more reasons to me - getting to know local flavours and family favourite recipes.

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    1. Yes you are right and beans are rather fabulous in all their shapes and colours.

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  15. I love Greek beans. Sometimes I'll make up a big batch and then pimp them up the next day with feta on top and grilled in the oven for a beany bake.

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  16. Oh Jac, that looks fabulous indeed. I adore beans and this sort of dish is one of the best.

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  17. It does looks awesome to try! I hope to do it next week... = P
    The pictures make you want to do it right away hahaha

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  18. I'm hungry now and it reminds me about the dish that my mom used to make it!

    https://asparklingjourney.wordpress.com/

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  19. I love this recipe, I've made it often in the slow cooker with the Gigantes beans I grow at home. Delicious 😋

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    1. Even better with home grown beans. I'm so glad you enjoy them.

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x