Fasoliyeh, also often called fasoulia or fasolia, is one of those typical Jordanian dishes you can try on your trip. At least, if you seek to taste traditional recipes from the country and throughout the Middle East since, as we shall see, it is also widely popular among neighboring countries. In the following lines, we tell you what this simple yet hearty stew contains and, above all, how delicious it is.
Typical of Jordan… and Many Other Places
Fasoliyeh is a typical Jordanian dish, yes. But citizens of other Middle Eastern countries could say the same, as it is also very popular in neighboring or nearby countries: others of Arab culture, where it maintains this name or fasolia (Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt…) but also others of predominantly Muslim faith, such as Turkey or Bosnia, where they are called kuru fasulye and grah, respectively. But what is surprising is that a similar dish can be found in other very different and distant cuisines around the world, where very similar names are also used: fabada in Spain, fagiolata in Italy, etc.
What Fasoliyeh Contains
Fasoliyeh is a dish with a simple recipe, easy to make, and with ingredients affordable to anyone. And that is perhaps behind its success and popularity. The main ingredient of this dish is the white bean, called frijoles in Latin American countries and judías blancas in Spain, where they also speak of habas (or fabes, in Asturias).
Sometimes fasoliyeh is referred to as ‘white bean soup,’ since its final result is usually brothy, but in other cases the broth is reduced during cooking and the finish is more thick, ideal for eating with a dry accompaniment, such as rice or even bulgur.
As for the broth, which is what truly gives this dish its flavor. To prepare it, small pieces of onion and garlic are sautéed in oil with salt and tomato paste or crushed tomato, to which water is then added. It is cooked for the necessary time for the beans to reach the right consistency, which does not prevent them from having been soaked for hours beforehand to soften. And as is usually the case, at this point what provides the distinctive touch is the choice of spices, such as coriander, but also other aromatic herbs such as parsley or thyme. Additionally, it can be flavored with bay leaf or celery.
It should be noted that it is common to add other vegetables, usually carrots, and also some type of red meat in small pieces to give the dish more substance, for example lamb or beef. But this is not essential. In fact, omitting it makes it a fully vegan-friendly dish.
Other Similar Dishes
After reading all this, this dish may remind you of another one covered in this same blog: indeed, bazelleh is quite similar, with the difference that the main ingredient is not white beans but peas. On the other hand, you should also pay close attention to the name of the dish, since if you find the name fasoulia khadra it will be referring to a very similar dish but with another main ingredient: green beans.
As you can see, this popular dish widely spread throughout the Middle East has different variants. Whatever your preference, we suggest you look for it in restaurants in Amman, Madaba, or any other city in the country, as it is easy to find in establishments that embrace Jordanian tradition as their hallmark. If you need assistance with selection or reservations, our agents or guides will be delighted to help you.
