How to make Fasalakia Freska (Greek Green Beans and Potatoes) – My Yia Yia’s Recipe
Blog - February 18, 2017

Do you love Greek food? My Greek roots keep me circling back to my Yia Yia’s cooking and one dish that stands out is the Greek Green Beans and Potatoes recipe.

Picture this:

Athens, Greece, 1979.  I’ve had a long day at the local beach with my cousins.  We come home, eat some watermelon and have our siesta.

How it all Started

Around four p.m. we are woken up by the aroma of my Yia Yia’s cooking; specifically Fasalakia Freska.  It is the best smell ever, the kind that lingers throughout the house.  I could hear her telling the dogs to get out of the kitchen while they were at her feet hoping for food to fall.

Us kids would sit around the table in the kitchen and eat, always with a salad, feta cheese, kalamata olives, tzatziki and fresh bread and wait for our meal.  These memories are the best memories of my life.  Food brings people together.

My Yia Yia never knew this, but I am extremely grateful that she taught my mother how to cook these Greek dishes.

Fasalakia Freska

One of my favorite Greek dishes is Fasalakia Freska.  This is a fresh green bean and potato dish in a tomato sauce. When she cooked, she did it without measuring anything.  She put her heart into all her cooking and her dishes became tastier the longer they sat in the refrigerator. 

I certainly can’t duplicate what she made but with practice I have come pretty close.  It’s pretty easy to make.

This will be such a hit in your house, trust me! It can be dinner or can be used as a side dish.

Fresh beans are the best.  I got these from our local farmers market. But if you use frozen green beans, you can find the frozen french green beans at Trader Joes.

How to make Fasalakia Freska in tomato sauce

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh green beans, topped and tailed
• 1 large onion diced
• 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
• 2 cloves garlic finely sliced
• 1 Cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 14 Oz can of tomatoes
• 1 Cup chopped parsley
• 1 Lemon

Instructions for Greek Green Beans Fasolakia

1. Rinse and drain beans. Cut the tips off.
2. Add the onion
3. Saute onion and garlic in hot oil until golden
4. Add green beans and saute for 15 minutes (braised green beans)
5. Cut the potatoes in quarter slices
6. Add the potatoes to the pan covering them with oil.
7. Add the diced tomatoes.
8. Add some salt and pepper
9. Add juice of one lemon
10. Cook covered until beans are tender and potatoes are cooked (about 30 mins)
11. Add water if needed

Garlic, lemon and onion are common ingredients in Greek food. I like a lot of lemon so I use a whole one.

Olive oil is in EVERYTHING. Do not put anything else, but a good olive oil.

Parsley is also a common denominator in many Greek dishes.

Don’t forget to mix it up periodically while cooking.

This has to be one of my favorite dishes, partnered with feta cheese, bread, olives, and tzatziki. 

Greek potatoes and green beans is such an easy dish and can last for days. What is your favorite Greek dish.

This delicious dish would go well with a 3 Pepper Salad.