Loubya - Lebanese Green Bean & Tomato Stew

Loubya Bi Zayt is a traditional Lebanese stew of tender green beans and a fragrant tomato sauce. A simple, healthy, flavorful side.

A seemingly simple dish, Loubya really surprised me with its big Flavors! Olive oil caramelized onions add a rich depth of flavor. The green beans are perfectly al dente, but the fragrant tomato sauce is what does it for me. It's warming, deep, and incredibly satisfying!

Reasons to love this recipe!

• It can be made with pantry staples or garden fresh tomatoes and green beans!
• It goes well with a variety of dishes! Or serve as a main dish with pita bread.
• Made with just 3 main ingredients - green beans, tomatoes, and onion - and only uses one pot.
• Naturally vegan, gluten free, paleo and healthy!

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Olive oil - try and use a good quality, flavorful oil if possible. I like this brand which is buttery and a bit spicy. It may seem trivial, but the flavor makes a big difference in the final dish.
• Onions - yellow onions are called for in the recipe, but white, sweet, and red onions all work - even shallots.
• Red pepper flakes - add a mild spice. Increase or omit as desired. You can also use a diced jalapeño.
• Garlic
• Green beans - any string bean will work in this recipe. Green bean and haricot vert, or French green beans, are the most common and available. Wax beans, Italian green beans, and Chinese long beans are also great options.
• Lebanese Seven Spice - also known as Baharat, this spice is a staple in Lebanese cooking. It is richly flavored, warming and adds instant heartiness to any recipe. You can follow the recipe here to make it at home, or order it online. In a pinch you can substitute a half teaspoon each allspice and cloves and a quarter teaspoon cinnamon.
• Salt - to bring out the flavors.
• Strained tomatoes - also called Passata or tomato puree, is bottled fresh, uncooked, tomatoes. It has a fantastic fresh flavor. You could also use pureed garden-fresh tomatoes, or tomato sauce.
• Sugar - a touch organic cane, granulated sugar, or honey balances out the acidity of the tomatoes.

How to make Loubya:

Caramelize the onion: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden. This process takes about 15 minutes, but adds a tremendous amount of flavor.

Bloom the spices: Add in the garlic, red pepper flakes, Seven Spice, and salt. Stir, cooking, until fragrant.

Cover and cook: Stir in the green beans, tomatoes, and sugar. Simmer, covered, until the beans are tender and the tomato sauce is fragrant and has thickened.

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Storage?

Fridge: Store leftovers in a lidded container for 5-6 days. Enjoy cold or reheat in the microwave.

Freezer: Freezing is possible, but not recommended. When frozen the stew releases a lot of liquid, watering down the flavor and changing the texture.

More flavorful Lebanese dishes!

• Lebanese Lentil Soup
• How to Make Seven Spice - a foundational Lebanese spice used in all these dishes.
• Lebanese Lentil Meatballs in tomato sauce