- Vegetable dishes that are cooked with olive oil and tomatoes are referred to as lathera (lah-the-RAH) in Greek, because the key ingredient is flavorful olive oil, or “lathi.”
- The most popular vegetable to make “lathera style” is the green bean, but you can try this dish with small zucchini, okra, or peppers as well.
- This version includes some potatoes and baby carrots (I find the carrots sweeten the sauce a bit) and can be a delicious vegetarian entrée or a tasty side dish.
- Try serving it with some crumbled feta on top and some great bread for dipping in the savory sauce.
Great Green Beans – Fasolakia Lathera
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. green beans, cleaned and trimmed
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-3 medium potatoes, cut in large wedges
- A large handful of baby carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 4-5 ripe tomatoes, skinned and crushed (substitute 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes)
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1 tbsp. chopped fresh dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
- In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about one minute.
- Add the green beans, potatoes, and carrots to the pot. Dissolve the tomato paste in the water and add, along with the crushed tomatoes, parsley, and sugar. Lower the heat to medium low and simmer covered for about an hour or until the green beans are tender but not mushy.
- In the last ten minutes of cooking, add the chopped fresh dill and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Note: Be sure to monitor your liquid levels while the beans are cooking. You can add a little bit of water if needed.
