Nevart and Hatoun's Fassoulia
The Sandcastle Girls - Recipe #2
This recipe is one of my husband's specialties, and given that I have only read a few chapters in the book so far (and not much food has been mentioned), I am adding something I know is Armenian and would surely be enjoyed by any of the characters in the story.
I am dedicating this to the first 2 Armenian refugees Elizabeth meets when she arrives in Aleppo. Nevart is an Armenian woman, and Hatoun, a young girl. They were both marched to Aleppo alongside hundreds of fellow Armenian women, naked, across the desert from Armenian villages in Turkey. They are near death, starving, and sun-burned when Elizabeth approaches the group to lend any aid she can. Nevart speaks English because her husband (who was murdered by the Turkish soldiers) went to medical school in London, and is therefore able to communicate with Elizabeth, who has yet to master the Armenian language.
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium-large onions, diced
5 cloves garlic, chopped (not minced)
3 pounds of green beans, trimmed and cleaned
one 28 ounce can (or two 12-oz cans) diced tomatoes
one 8-ounce can tomato paste
1 bunch parsley, cleaned and chopped
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt (add more if desired)
Water (enough to cover ingredients)
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add onions and garlic and sauté until onions are translucent.
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, beans, and enough water to cover everything. Stir well.
Add salt, pepper, and parsley and stir.
Increase heat to high, and bring to boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low, and cover.
Simmer continuously for about 3 hours, until beans are mushy (stir every 30 minutes or so to avoid sticking)
Take off heat and allow to cool.
Serve room temperature or chilled.
Enjoy!
