Fasolada – Greek white bean soup is delicious and comforting. Easy to make it has everything you need to cozy up with when the weather gets chillier.

Two bowls with fasolada-greek white bean soup, bread and a pot filled with the soup.

A traditional way to “celebrate” the beginning of winter in Greece is to make a big pot of fasolada – white bean soup. This Greek soup comes from very humble beginnings and has the promise of a glorious future 🙂

Once considered the “poor” man’s food this white bean soup is a classic Greek staple that generations of Greeks grew up with and still enjoy today. All you need really is a piece (or two) of good bread to pair it with. Additionally you can add anchovies, nice greek olives and greek feta to your meal.

This humble fasolada is delicious, filling, comforting and everything you need to warm up when the weather gets chillier.

Ingredients

Dry white beans
Onions
Garlic
Carrots
Celery
Extra virgin olive oil
Chicken broth
Tomatoes
Tomato paste
Parsley
Dry oregano
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

Two bowls with fasolada-greek white bean soup and bread.

Soaking the white beans

This white bean soup recipe is very easy. You basically throw everything in a large pot and wait for it to be cooked. The only delay is the soaking of the beans.

The white beans have to be soaked for ten hours. Soaking them before cooking is recommended to resolve digestive issues, and it also reduces cooking times.

Add the beans in a large pot. Fill the pot with plenty of water to cover the beans and more. Add a pinch of salt. Stir and let the beans soak for 10 hours or overnight.

When you are ready, rinse them really well, put them back into the pot with enough water to cover them and boil for 20 min. Drain beans and set aside.

Left image: Onions and garlic sautéing. Right image: Carrots celery and onions in a pot cooking.

In medium heat add 2-3 tbsp olive oil in the pot. Add the onion. Sauté for 2-3 min, until onions are translucent. Add the garlic.( Image 1)

Stir and add the carrots, celery, and tomato paste. Stir again well. Season with salt and pepper and the dry oregano. Sauté for 2-3 min mixing everything well to allow flavors to develop. ( Image 2)

Left image: Carrots, celery,onions , beans and tomato sauce with basil in a pot cooking. Right image: Bean soup in a pot.

Add the beans and the tomatoes. Stir and add the chicken stock, parsley and enough water to cover the beans plus an extra inch. ( Image 3)

Stir well and let them simmer for 2 hours or until beans are soft. Add more water or stock if you need too. ( Image 4)

Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve.

I like to make fasolada the day before I want to enjoy it. I soak the beans in plenty of water early in the morning and in 10 hours they are ready to be cooked. The soup simmers all evening while we have have dinner, watch our favorites on HBO or play board games. The broth develops, thickens lightly and turns really delicious. It is worth the wait.
The fresher the dry beans the least time of cooking they need. If your bag of dry white beans has been sitting in your pantry for a while, be prepared for longer cooking. Nothing wrong with that, just be aware.
You can substitute the broth with 2 bouillon cubes (and plenty of water). Please use the ones without palm oil, or with sustainable palm oil like Bou.