Fassoulada

Fassoulada (or fassolada) is a Greek soup, made with white beans and olive oil. It is sometimes called the "national food of the Greeks".

Basic recipe:

1 pound dried navy beans
2 onions, chopped
2 celery stalks with leaves chopped
2 carrots, scraped and diced
4 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup chopped, drained tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs fresh mint or thyme
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

Wash beans and soak overnight in cold water. The next day, in a soup kettle, bring the beans to a boil in the soaking water. Skim off the foam, then add the remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer gently until the beans are tender, about 3 hours. Serve hot.