Easy Greek Fasolada (bean soup)

 

In certain areas of the world, lifespans sour well past 100.  These areas are known as the Blue Zones where it is common to see people living into their 90s and beyond.  One such blue zone is located in Sardinia, Italy.  I decided to explore the cuisine and lifestyle a bit to figure out what helped people live longer and healthier lives without the chronic diseases seen in other parts of the world.  I happen to be a big believer that even though we might have a genetic predisposition to certain illnesses or chronic conditions, we can overcome such diseases through diet and lifestyle.  I try my best to incorporate healthy eating habits into my daily life to encourage health and wellness.  Every day, I'm making a commitment to practice some form of physical activity, whether it be a 45-minute walk or an intense aerobic workout.  Making healthy choices needs to be a conscious decision we need to make each and every day.  Our current lifestyle promotes being sedentary and immobile. People are always sitting nowadays, whether you are watching  TV, working at your office job or surfing the internet.  But, how can you incorporate movement into your daily life?  You make a conscious effort to get up and move.  I usually wait until I drop my kids off at school to go for my 45-minute walk.  If I don't have time in the morning, when kids are home, I will do a workout on my elliptical or try a new workout video.  I usually run into issues when I can't get to my workout in the morning and then have to run my kids to a million extracurricular activities after school.  It's quite a challenge dealing with various personalities. It becomes so easy to let go of caring for my health and exercising.  Healthy habits easily go out the window as frustration takes over.  But, I always manage to help myself get back on track.  And that should always be the goal, getting yourself back on track.  

So what is it about these Blue Zones?  We can start by learning about their diet and the various foods they incorporate into their everyday life.  I decided to look into cuisine in the surrounding region and found this very easy to make Greek bean soup or Fasolada.  The cuisine in many of the blue zones is heavy into plants and if I know anything about plants, the more plant found you incorporate into your diet, the better.  Plants are healing!  This soup is delicious on a cold winter day and I have to say when the weather gets chilly, I start making soup and stew!  I know you will just love this bean soup...

Fasolada

Ingredients:

Extra virgin olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 celery ribs, chopped

1 tsp oregano

1 dried bay leaf

4 1/2 cups chicken broth

3 15 ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 tsp ground cumin 

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 lemon, zested and juiced

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

In a big dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium heat.  Add the chopped onion, salt, and pepper.  Cook for about 4 minutes over medium heat stirring regularly, then add garlic, celery, bay leaf, and oregano.  Cook for 5 more minutes.  

Add the broth, cannellini beans, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper.  Raise heat and bring soup to a boil for 3 minutes.  Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.  Once off the heat, stir in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and parsley.  Ladle into a bowl and serve with your favorite rustic bread!  Enjoy!