Surprising Slow Cooker Green Beans Are Amazing

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Healthy Yummy Greek Green Beans "Fasolakia Lathera"

Slow cooker green beans may sound a little strange today since we commonly steam vegetables just to the point of crisp-tender.

But seriously, try it! Green beans made with this super-healthy, Greek-inspired recipe have tons of flavor that will all melt together in your happy mouth.

The Greek name for this dish is Fasolakia Lathera, which means "green beans cooked in oil." It's often a main dish in Greece, with diced potatoes added. A Mediterranean-style diet has many health benefits, and it's a smart choice for many well-documented reasons.

The only fat used in much of their cooking is heart-healthy olive oil. Quite often, the only fat used in their largely plant-based diet. Healthy does not mean boring! My brother Stan, a fantastic cook, shared this fabulous recipe with me. It's been a go-to dish at their house for years.

How To Make Amazing Slow Cooker Green Beans

Wash and trim the stem ends of fresh green beans. The more young and slender the beans, the better. Leave them whole.

Add a cup of fresh diced tomatoes. I chose to mix it up with more color and used one Roma tomato and one yellow one. Confession: I forgot to peel them, but it all turned out okay—we didn't suffer!

Add a cup of diced onions. Again, I used up what I had. I had about one half of a red onion and one half of a sweet onion so they joined the party in the pot.

Last, add salt and pepper to taste and pour olive oil, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water over everything. Finally, put the lid on your pot and try to wait patiently while the magic happens.

How To Cook These Gorgeous Green Beans

The method is simple. This recipe calls for bringing the mixture to a boil and then continuing with low, slow cooking. You can do this on the stove in a good heavy saucepan.

It can easily take an hour for the beans to get completely tender. You want to give it plenty of time for all the ingredients to fall in love and marry. Check every fifteen minutes or so and add a little water if needed.

I tried out my new Pampered Chef RockCrok on the slow cooker stand. It did a great job, but it took about three hours to reach the tenderness I wanted. I started it on high, then turned it to low once it came to a boil.

Last, a good old crockpot might work great too, if you start out on high and then turn it down. Allow six hours for this method of cooking.

How Do You Like Your Beans

I asked my brother if he ever added any garlic, basil, or oregano often found in Greek dishes and his answer was, "No, simple is often best."

He's right of course. But, after tasting mine, I added a bit of garlic, and it enhanced the flavor in my opinion. I suggest you make it like Stan's been making it for years and if you want to experiment, they are your beans!

This dish can be served hot or at room temperature. You may like to sprinkle on a little more lemon juice and olive oil to taste! Enjoy!

I cruised around some recipe sites to see what else was out there. I did like one suggestion. "Crumble on some salty feta cheese and serve with a nice chunk of bread for a lovely main dish."

I'm going to try it next time because "everything's betta with feta," right? Sounds good to me! Later this week, I'm going to make fasolakia and add some tiny new potatoes with the skins on. I can't wait to try it!

Yield: 4 servings

Slow Cooked Green Beans

Print

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• One pound fresh green beans, washed and stem end removed
• 1 cup tomatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup water
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• Fresh squeezed lemon juice to taste, about 2 Tablespoons or more

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan.
2. Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat to medium low.
3. Cook about one hour, checking every 15 minutes or so to add a little water as needed.
4. Serve hot or at room temeperature.
5. Sprinkle on additional olive oil and lemon juice to taste.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 190Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 158mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 5gSugar: 8gProtein: 3g

I’m always super excited to hear your suggestions! Do you have any ideas about this recipe? Would you add potatoes or anything else?

I am crazy about vegetables, and I make sure we include some in our diet every day! You might enjoy this microwave asparagus, marinated vegetable salad, or Danish-style cucumber salad.

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Love, GB (Betty Streff)

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