Green Bean Stew with Minced Beef (Loubieh bi Lahme)
This Green Bean Stew with Minced Beef (Loubieh Bi Lahme) is a full bodied meal made with succulent beef and fresh green beans. It's a hearty dish that every one will love!
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 2 15 ounce Green Beans or Italian cut beans
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 quarts water or enough to cover beans by 1½ inches
- 2 tablespoons seven spices or all spices (divided) (tap here for seven spices recipe)
- 1½ lemons juiced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 bouillon cubes vegetable or beef
- 1 tablespoon salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot over high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the ground beef and cook for 6–7 minutes, breaking it up until browned.
- Season the meat with 1 tablespoon of seven spices, then proceed to add the frozen or fresh cup of chopped Italian green beans (regular green beans can be used).
- Pour in enough water to cover the beans by about 1½ inches. Add bouillon cubes, remaining 1 tablespoon of seven spices, and salt. Stir well.
- Bring to a boil, then lower to medium heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk the flour with ½ cup cold water until smooth (slurry). Add a ladle of hot broth from the pot into the slurry, whisk again, then slowly stir it back into the stew to thicken.
- Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the broth slightly thickened.
- Stir in lemon juice at the end, adjust seasoning, and serve hot with rice or quinoa.
Notes
- Check the pan from time to time to ensure there is enough liquid left. If the beans are not yet cooked but the liquid has evaporated, add a splash of hot water to the pan.
- If you use frozen green beans, you may need to adjust the cooking time because frozen beans cook faster. Don't thaw the frozen beans.
- I don't recommend using canned beans for this stew.
- If you want to make this recipe vegan, just skip the minced beef and add vegetable bouillon cubes.
- You can use gravy or casserole beef chunks in this stew, but it will take more time to cook.
- You can adjust the thickness of the broth by adding two spoons of flour (optional).