Fasolada (Greek White Bean Soup)

Fasolada is a homely Greek white bean soup with a tomato-rich broth, softened vegetables and plenty of olive oil giving it body without needing meat or dairy. The beans are soaked, then gently simmered with onion, carrot, celery, garlic, bay and chopped tomatoes until tender, creating a soup that is both hearty and brothy rather than heavy. A final handful of parsley keeps the flavour fresh, while extra virgin olive oil adds the rounded, peppery finish that makes the dish so recognisable. Serve it with crusty bread for a simple dinner, and let it rest briefly before eating so the beans and broth settle into a fuller texture.
Cuisine style Greek home cooking
Cooking style One-pot cooking • Make-ahead friendly • Freezer-friendly
Time commitment Under 3 hours

Why this recipe works

  • Slow, gentle simmering: Soaked dried beans cook directly in the tomato broth, giving the soup body and allowing the vegetables, bay and garlic to flavour the beans as they soften.
  • Naturally creamy broth: The beans release starch as they simmer, thickening the soup without cream; lightly crushing some beans makes it silkier if desired.
  • Improves after resting: A short stand before serving helps the beans and broth settle, and leftovers reheat well with a little extra water to loosen the texture.

Get the most out of this recipe

Authenticity notes

  • Greek home-style soup: Fasolada is typically simple and vegetable-led, relying on good beans, olive oil and a tomato base rather than meat or stock for depth.
  • Classic serving style: Crusty bread is a natural pairing, used to scoop up the thick broth and olive-oil-rich finish.

Timing notes

  • Soak the beans first: An overnight soak helps dried beans cook more evenly and shortens the simmering time.
  • Let it stand briefly: Resting the soup for a few minutes after cooking allows the broth to thicken slightly and the seasoning to settle.

Texture tips

  • For a creamier finish: Crush a small portion of the cooked beans against the side of the pot, then stir them back through the soup.
  • Keep the beans intact: Maintain a gentle simmer rather than a hard boil so the beans turn tender without breaking down too aggressively.

Make-ahead tips

  • Good for batch cooking: The soup keeps well in the fridge and can be reheated gently on the hob with a splash of water if the broth has thickened.
  • Freezer-friendly: Cool completely before freezing in sealed containers, then defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat until piping hot.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Put the dried white beans in a bowl, cover with plenty of cold water, and soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse well in a colander.
  2. In a stockpot, warm the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Finely chop the onion, dice the carrots and celery, then cook with a pinch of the fine sea salt for 8 to 10 minutes until softened but not browned.
  3. Slice the garlic and stir it in for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the drained beans, bay leaves and canned chopped tomatoes, then pour in enough water to cover by about 3 cm.
  4. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and partially cover. Cook for 60 to 75 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the soup is thick and brothy; top up with a little water if it gets too thick.
  5. Season with the remaining fine sea salt and the black pepper, then simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavours settle. Finely chop the fresh parsley and stir most of it through, reserving a little to finish.
  6. Ladle into bowls and scatter over the reserved parsley. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving so the beans and broth come together.

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Recipe notes

Serving suggestions

This recipe pairs well with:

Crusty bread

Tips

  • For a creamier texture, lightly crush a ladleful of beans against the side of the pot, then stir back in.
  • Keep the simmer gentle so the beans stay intact and the broth turns naturally silky.
  • If serving to vulnerable groups, make sure the soup is simmered until the beans are fully tender throughout.

Substitutions

  • Replace Fresh parsley with Fresh dill for a more aromatic, aniseed-leaning finish.
  • Replace Canned chopped tomatoes with Canned crushed tomatoes for a smoother, more uniform broth.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 4 days
  • Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat gently on the hob with a splash of water to loosen, stirring until piping hot; freeze for up to 3 months and defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

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Fasolada (Greek White Bean Soup)
Photo by Jenny Sirimis on Pexels

Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 2h 15min (20min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Greek
  • Allergens:
    Celery
Beginner friendly With serving suggestions One pot Freezer friendly Kid friendly

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