Fasolada (Greek White Bean Soup) - Recipes From Europe (2024)

Here’s a Classic Recipe for Delicious Greek Fasolada!

Searching for a simple yet hearty soup to warm you up? Greek bean soup – also known as Fasolada or Fasoulada – is definitely a good candidate!

This soup is full of delicious Mediterranean flavors. Made from fibrous white beans, vegetables, olive oil, and some tomato paste, this healthy and hearty soup is a classic.

There are a few variations of Fasolada soup around parts of Europe and the Middle East. Similar dishes include Italian fa*giolata and Portuguese Feijoada.

There are even regional differences across Greece and Cyprus – but this recipe is a pretty traditional version!

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this Fasolada soup:

• Cannellini beans – You’ll need 2 cans (15 ounces each); alternatively can also use butter beans.
• Onion – One yellow onion chopped.
• Celery – Stalks of celery cut into small cubes.
• Carrots – Carrots peeled and cut into small cubes.
• Garlic – Thinly slice the garlic cloves.
• Tomato Paste – To thicken the soup and add flavor.
• Olive Oil – Use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
• Paprika – To add flavor; use regular not smoked paprika.
• Chili flakes – To add flavor and a little bit of heat. Can skip if you don’t like spice.
• Oregano – To add flavor to the soup.
• Bay Leaves – Also to add flavor. Remember to remove the bay leaves after cooking.
• Vegetable Broth – The liquid component of the soup. Can also use vegetable stock and make your own broth with water. You’ll need 3 1/2 cups
• Black Pepper – To add flavor.
• Salt – Add to taste.

Toppings (optional):

• Kalamata olives
• Fresh parsley
• Feta Cheese

Recipe Tips

Before you dive into this Fasolada recipe, you’ll want to know about a few things:

• You can also make this soup with dried beans. You’ll just have to plan ahead a little bit. Use 1 cup of dried beans, soak them overnight or for at least 8 hours, then cook them until tender and use as directed in the recipe.
• The toppings are definitely optional but highly recommended. Feta cheese and/or olives bring out different elements from the tomato broth and it’s really yummy!

How to Make Fasolada – Step by Step Instructions

Here is how you make this Greek white bean soup. You can follow the recipe instructions in this section with process photos for every step of the way.

If you’re looking to get started and feeling confident, the detailed recipe card is at the bottom of this post.

Start by heating 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven or a soup pot over medium heat.

The add the chopped onion, diced carrots, diced celery, thinly sliced garlic, and salt to taste

Sauté everything for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

Then stir in the tomato paste and cook everything for around 2 minutes.

Next, add the vegetable broth,oregano, paprika, chili flakes, bay leaves, and black pepper and give it a stir.

Now bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and add the beans. Cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes until the vegetables are soft.

Now stir in the remaining olive oil and remove the bay leaves.

Serve the soup in a bowl and optionally add some of the recommended toppings. It tastes great with crusty bread.

Storage Tips

You can store any leftover fasolada in a sealed container in the fridge once the soup has cooled. Properly stored, it’ll last for up to three days.

You can also make it ahead of time and freeze it. Again, let it cool and put it in freezer safe containers.

It’ll last for a few months in the freezer and you only need to let it thaw for a few hours before heating it up again.

With any soup that way frozen, you might have to add some additional water or broth when you reheat it.

FAQ

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about this classic Greek soup!

Related Recipes

If you liked this Greek soup recipe, here are some other amazing European soups – thick and thin – that are sure to warm you up!

• Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)
• German Lentil Soup
• Greek Chickpea Soup
• Easy Sauerkraut Soup
• Greek Beef and Orzo Stew
• Split Pea Soup – German Style

See Also

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Recipe — A Full Living

Fasolada (Greek White Bean Soup)

Fasolada is a hot and delicious soup. This Greek White Bean Soup is loaded with beans and vegetables and serves well with crusty bread!

4.93 from 14 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 portions

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 15 ounce cans of cannellini beans, alternatively butter beans
• ▢ 1 onion, chopped
• ▢ 2 stalks of celery, diced
• ▢ 3 medium carrots, diced
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• ▢ 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ▢ 1/2 cup olive oil, extra virgin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• ▢ 1 teaspoon oregano
• ▢ 2 bay leaves
• ▢ 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ salt, to taste

Toppings (optional)

• ▢ kalamata olives
• ▢ feta cheese
• ▢ fresh parsley

Instructions

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven or a soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and salt and sauté for 5 minutes.

  1 onion, 2 stalks of celery, 3 medium carrots, 3 garlic cloves, salt

• Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 2 minutes.

  2 tablespoons tomato paste

• Now add the veggie broth, oregano, paprika, chili flakes, bay leaves, and black pepper.

  1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, 1 teaspoon oregano, 2 bay leaves, 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and add the beans. Cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes until the vegetables are soft.

  2 15 ounce cans of cannellini beans

• Stir in the remaining olive oil and remove the bay leaves.

  1/2 cup olive oil

• Serve the soup in a bowl and optionally add some of the recommended toppings. It tastes great with crusty bread.

  kalamata olives, feta cheese, fresh parsley

Notes

• You can also make this soup with dried beans. Use 1 cup of dried beans, soak overnight or for at least 8 hours, then cook until tender and use as explained above.
• Serve with crusty bread.
• The toppings are optional but highly recommended.

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Sodium: 925mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 8338IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Course Soup

Cuisine Greek