Fasolakia me Kreas (Greek Green Beans with Beef in Tomato)
Soft, olive oil braised green beans and potatoes with tender beef, simmered in a gently spiced tomato sauce.
Made with Basic tomato sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time2 hr
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.80 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Pat the beef dry. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy casserole over a high heat and brown the beef in 2 batches for 5 minutes each. Lift out.
10 min - 2
Add the onion and the rest of the oil to the pot and cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
6 min - 3
Return the beef, add your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe), the water, oregano and salt. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook on a low heat for 1 hour.
60 min - 4
Add the green beans and potatoes, pushing them down into the sauce. Cover and cook for 30 minutes more, until the beans are very soft and the potatoes tender.
30 min - 5
Uncover and simmer for 5 minutes if the sauce is thin. Scatter with parsley and serve warm, with crusty bread.
Tips
- Greek green beans are cooked until very soft, not crunchy. Do not stop early.
- Flat green beans such as runner or Romano beans are traditional. Ordinary green beans work, too.
- Greek cooks often serve this warm rather than hot. It tastes even better after resting for 15 minutes.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I make it vegan?
Yes. Leave out the beef and add another 200 g potatoes and 1 extra tablespoon of olive oil. It becomes fasolakia lathera, the classic Greek vegan version.
Can I use frozen green beans?
Yes. Add them straight from frozen, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until soft.
Is it gluten free?
Yes. It contains only beef, vegetables, olive oil and herbs, so it is gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.