Braised Green Beans- Loubieh Bzeit is a healthy vegan dish that everyone at home will love. Known in Lebanon as a summer dish because of its refreshing texture and taste, this dish can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or main dish depending on the vibe. Made with fresh green beans, juicy tomatoes, tasty onions, and aromatic garlic, Loubieh Bzeit is a flavor-packed vegetarian dish perfect for any day! The best part of this dish is the final touch of olive oil poured onto the dish right before taking it off the heat!
A great meal prep dish because it stores so well for at least a week in the fridge. Also, because it’s usually served as a cold dish, but can be warmed up if desired. In Lebanon, this dish is served as a main dish, as Meza- an appetizer, or as a side dish among other similar dishes. Many people enjoy it with a huge tray of a variety of veggies including:
- green, yellow, or red peppers
- cucumbers
- shallots
- red or white onions
- radishes
- jalapenos or other spicy peppers
- lettuce
Which Green Bean to use for this Dish?
There are quite a few different green beans out there. Right off the bat, I’m going to tell you that nearly any type of green bean will work perfectly fine for this dish. The important thing to know is that the beans you buy should be a bit solid. Meaning not too solid but soft enough for you to snap them into preferred size with your fingers. As you snap them apart, they shouldn’t leave behind stringy lines on the edges. So, when you snap a green bean, it should have clean edges. This means that the bean is perfect for cooking through easily and won’t get too mushy at the same time.
The top two best green beans for this dish are snap/string beans and Romano beans also known as Italian or flat beans. These are easy to snap into desired pieces and usually cook through well. Other beans that would work are French green beans, purple string beans, long beans, and wax beans.
Tips for Making An Enjoyable Braised Green Beans- Loubieh Bzeit Recipe
- It’s best to cook this dish on very low heat. So, after you sauté the garlic and onions and add your beans, turn your heat to low and let the beans cook slowly. This allows them to absorb the aromatic flavors and to cook all the beans through thoroughly.
- Use ripe tomatoes because they have more juices that they will release into the stew and melt better into the stew as they cook.
- You can dice up your favorite peppers, spicy or sweet, and sauté them with the onions and garlic to take the flavors up a notch.
- If you really want an extra kick of flavor, go with a two or three extra cloves of garlic and sprinkle in some cayenne pepper.
- Have fun with the dish and add other veggies you and your family love like carrots, zucchini, potatoes, peas, etc.
- If you want the dish to take on more of a stew form, you can add a teaspoon of tomato paste and quarter cup of water and let them simmer on low heat.
- Be sure to pour the olive oil onto the beans right before you turn off the heat and mix gently to create a braised taste.
- Try to use a really good olive oil brand, or olive oil from overseas which is amazing!
Frequently asked questions
If cooking on medium to high heat, cook for about six minutes before adding tomatoes. For best results, cook on low heat for around 15 to 20 minutes and then add the tomatoes and simmer on low.
The onions and garlic are the source of flavor in this dish, so you can add extra if you feel like you want more flavor. You can also add some shaved ginger, a pinch of red chili flakes, or sauté some peppers with your onions and garlic.
This dish stores quite well. If stored appropriately in an airtight container, it can last for up to one week in the fridge. It can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to three months and thawed overnight in the fridge. Serve cold or reheat in a pot on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe dish.
Ingredients for Braised Green Beans- Loubieh Bzeit
- green beans
- olive oil
- onions; diced
- garlic; minced
- tomatoes; diced
- black pepper
- salt
How to Make Loubieh Bzeit
- Snap off the end of the green beans then begin to snap each bean into about 3 parts. Wash them and then place in a bowl.
- In a medium pot on high heat add the olive oil, diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté’ for a minute then add in the chopped or snapped green beans. Sauté’ for about 5-6 minutes or until beans have cooked and shrunk down a bit.
- Add the diced tomatoes, salt, and black pepper. Mix, cover, and place on low heat for about 30 minutes. Enjoy warm or cold with pita bread or on its own.
Other Healthy and Delicious Recipes to Try Out
- Four-Ingredient Chia Seed Pudding
- Easiest Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese
- Durum Wheat Chicken Soup- Frikeh
- Mexican Chicken Zucchini Skillet
- Grilled Lime and Cilantro Shrimp
- Lemon Mint Garlic Chicken Stew
- Healthy Pasta Salad and Dressing
- Mediterranean Salad Pita Wraps
- Honey Soy Glazed Salmon
- Roasted Eggplant Salad
Loubieh Bzeit – Braised Green Beans
Ingredients
- 2 pounds green beans
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 medium onions diced
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 3 medium tomatoes diced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Snap off the end of the green beans then begin to snap each bean into about 3 parts. Wash them and then place in a bowl.
- In a medium pot on high heat add the olive oil, diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté’ for a minute then add in the chopped or snapped green beans. Sauté’ for about 5-6 minutes or until beans have cooked and shrunk down a bit.
- Add the diced tomatoes, salt, and black pepper. Mix, cover, and place on low heat for about 30 minutes. Enjoy warm or cold with pita bread or on its own.
Maya says
This Braised Green Beans- LOUBIEH BZEIT recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare Loubieh. It’s so flavorful and hearty!
Leanna says
Delicious recipe! The bright flavors of the green beans and tomatoes do not fade with cooking!
Thank you!
Zeinab says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. It reminds me of my childhood.mom used to make it. Made it last night and everyone enjoyed it.