Greek White Bean Soup (Fasolatha) 🇬🇷🥕

🥕🇬🇷 Greek white bean soup (fasolatha). You could say it’s one of Greece’s national dishes......and for good reason. It’s cheap and easy to make, fills the tummy and is delicious and nutritious. ⁣

My grandmother used to make this soup without tomato, which is also another variation. You can also vary the amount of tomato you include. You can't really mess this recipe up. Make it the way you like!
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Ingredients ⁣
 

• 500g dried Orchard Valley Great Northern Beans⁣, or a similar quality brand
• 8 cups of fresh water ⁣
• 1 large brown onion, chopped ⁣
• 3 stalks celery (with some of their leaves), finely sliced⁣
• 2-3 carrots, finely sliced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped small ⁣
• ⁣ 3 bay leaves ⁣
• 1½ cups quality tomato passata, or crush 3 large fresh ripe tomatoes in the blender ⁣
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste ⁣
• 1-2 tsp. sea salt and pepper, or to taste⁣
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil ⁣
• 1 bunch parsley, chopped⁣

Method

• Soak the beans for at least 8 hours or overnight.⁣⁣
• Drain and rinse the beans well. Place them in a large pot with just enough fresh water to cover them. Bring to a boil and cook for a further 3-4 minutes. You will notice that white foam will rise to the surface of the water. Remove it with a spoon and then drain and wash the beans really well in a colander. (This step is said to make the beans much easier on your stomach!)⁣
• ⁣Rinse and dry the pot and heat half the olive oil. Sauté the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and bay leaves for a few minutes.⁣
• Stir in the tomato and tomato paste and mix well. 
• ⁣Add the water (atleast enough to cover the beans by a third)
• Bring to a boil and add the beans. 
• Reduce heat, and simmer soup uncovered, for 1- 1/2-2 hours, or until the beans are very tender and soup thickens.
• Just before removing from heat, adjust seasoning with remaining olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Stir in chopped parsley.
• Serve hot with some hearty bread at the minimum. Maybe even some olives and Greek Feta cheese. You can also add chilli flakes or fresh chopped chilli 🌶

Tastes even better the next day!

Notes

• This makes 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 of soup, so halve it if necessary or share it round like l do.⁣⁣
• Chop your vegetables however you like 😀. There are always variations, as with any recipe. ⁣
• You can replace the great northern beans with cannellini beans too.