Arabic recipesStarters
Loubieh bil Zeit: Levantine Braised Green Beans in Olive Oil
Loubieh bil Zeit is a staple vegan dish of Lebanese and Syrian home cooking in which flat green beans braise slowly with sweet onions, whole garlic cloves, and ripe tomatoes in generous extra-virgin olive oil. Served at room temperature and scooped up with flatbread, its flavours deepen overnight.
Also known as:Lebanese green beans in olive oilLubieh bi zeit mezzeSyrian braised Romano beans with tomatoes
Servings4
Prep time15 min
Cook time35 min
Ingredients
Add ingredients to cart- 750 g fresh flat Romano or green beans, trimmed and snapped into bite-sized lengths
- 80 ml fruity Levantine extra-virgin olive oil (reserving 2 tbsp raw for finishing)
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 8 peeled garlic cloves (half sliced, half left whole)
- 500 g ripe peeled and diced tomatoes plus 1 tsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander, a pinch of seven-spice, salt, and black pepper
- Fresh flatbread, spring onions, and lemon wedges to serve
Preparation Steps
- 1Warm 60 ml olive oil in a wide heavy pot over medium heat and sweat the diced onion gently until translucent without browning.
- 2Stir in the garlic cloves and ground coriander for 1 minute, then toss in the green beans and sauté in the olive oil for 8 to 10 minutes until bright and slightly softened.
- 3Fold in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, and pinch of seven-spice; cover tightly and braise over very low heat for 25 minutes in the tomatoes' natural juices.
- 4Uncover for the final 5 minutes if needed so the sauce reduces thick and glossy around the tender beans.
- 5Turn off the heat, drizzle with the reserved 2 tablespoons raw extra-virgin olive oil, and let cool to lukewarm or room temperature before serving with flatbread.
