This Loubieh bi zeit recipe is traditional Lebanese green beans braised in oil and tomatoes with garlic.
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What is Loubieh Bi Zeit?
Loubieh bi zeit is a traditional vegan Lebanese meal of braised green beans in a tomato base with extra virgin olive oil.
It is made with simple ingredients using fresh string beans (loubieh), tomato, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Loubieh in English?
βLoubiehβ in English translates to βbeansβ and βbi zeitβ translate to βin oilβ.
Loubieh bi zeit (or lubia bzeit or loubia bil zeit) is pronounced as "looΒ·beeΒ·yeh bee zayΒ·te"
Loubieh is also known as lubia or loubia in other Middle Eastern countries.
Why Youβll Love This Recipe
- Very flavorsome, sweet from the semi caramelized onions & braised green beans and a tad acidic from the tomato.
- Easy to cook using simple ingredients and can be made ahead, in fact, it is delicious the next day.
- Itβs both naturally vegan (usually listed as a vegetarian dish in Lebanon) and gluten-free, this traditional Lebanese green beans recipe is one I learned off my mother.
- Only one pot is needed to prepare.
- Enjoyed cold as part of a mezze or rolled up in pita bread, I grew up eating it in pita bread, it was a convenient way for my mother to feed a few mouths.
Ingredients Youβll Need
Green beans (string beans) must be fresh and of good quality, after all, it is the main ingredient. For other fresh beans, you can use flat green beans (romano beans), snake beans (asparagus beans), and runner beans. This recipe is not for dry beans.
You will need to trim off the stalk tip and then snap (or cut) into bite size pieces.
I usually snap the beans into 3-4 small pieces, about just over an inch (3-4cm) long.
Fresh tomatoes are an essential ingredient that will be diced small and added to the base sauce adding flavor and a little acidity enhancing the flavor of the overall meal.
Use ripe tomatoes for best results.
Fresh onion either white or brown onion will work well. Dice up small.
Fresh garlic is a crucial flavor along with the onion. You can add lots of garlic if you like which can be crushed or thinly sliced.
Olive oil - Originally this recipe calls for a lot more oil (hence the name bi zeit or bzeit - "in oil") I sometimes use avocado oil instead, as it has a high smoke point.
I have reduced the amount of oil in this recipe to make it a little "healthier".
Salt my go-to is Himalayan salt, this ingredient will enhance the overall natural sweetness of the tomatoes and beans.
Black pepper is best when freshly cracked. This combined with paprika, which is optional, gives a slight pepperiness to this delicious meal.
Water is used to help soften the beans, eventually, it will reduce, leaving a light thick tomato base.
Optional Ingredients
A touch of either Lebanese 7 spice, ground allspice, or ground cinnamon. I much prefer to leave these out as the flavors of the beans are truly delicious once braised, they're mildly sweet and their flavors are enhanced by the salt.
Fresh lemon juice can be squeezed onto the loubieh bi zeit when serving. I prefer to leave this out.
How To Make Loubieh Bi Zeit
Caramelize the Onions
Over medium-high heat, heat the oil (zeit) in a large pot (I like using my Dutch oven (affiliate link) for this recipe). Add the diced onions and fry until slightly golden, approximately 5-7 minutes.
Braise The Green Beans
Add the bite-sized bean pieces, diced tomato, and crushed garlic. Stir through, ensuring everything is coated in the oil and onion mixture.
Season
Add salt, black pepper and paprika (optional), and add water. Stir everything through. If you are adding the optional spices, add these in too.
Braise Until Tender
Turn the heat to low. Cover and braise for 25 - 30 minutes. Stirring every five minutes. Loubieh be zeit should be completely tender. Serve cold or warm with pita bread. See more serving suggestions below.
Pro Tips
The last 10 minutes of cooking Lebanese green beans is crucial. Check the bottom of the pot to see if it has enough juice.
If required top up with a ΒΌ cup of water or use as needed to ensure the beans do not dry out. Adjust salt if needed.
Stoves differ, I use a gas stove, which generally cooks quicker than an electric stove. I usually turn off the burner at the 25-minute mark.
FAQ
Once the braised green beans have cooled down to room temperature, place them into an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Serving Suggestions
Lebanese loubieh can be eaten as part of a wider spread of little meals, called mezze or as a side dish.
It can also be enjoyed rolled up in Lebanese bread (pita bread) with a side of salad such as fattoush salad or Arabic salad.
Sometimes we like to enjoy it with Lebanese vermicelli rice, even though braised green beans are normally enjoyed cold, we warm it up and enjoy it as a main meal.
Use bread to mop up the juices.
More Lebanese Bean Dishes
There are many delicious Lebanese beans recipes such as Lebanese kidney bean stew, ful akhdar bi zeit (green broad beans in oil) or black eyed beans with greens which are all lovely for either lunch or dinner.
For some breakfast beans try my amazing foul moudamas, or musabaha (warmed chickpeas).
Or for a salad, try my Lebanese butter bean salad otherwise, check out my vegan Lebanese food category for more amazing and authentic recipes. You won't be disappointed and I am sure you'll find a new recipe to try.
Recipe
Loubieh Bi Zeit (Lebanese Green Beans Braised in Oil)
Ingredients
- 1 kilo Green beans trimmed and cut into bit sized pieces
- 3 tablespoon Olive oil sub avocado oil
- 1 medium Onion diced small
- 2 large cloves Garlic crushed
- 1 medium - large Tomato diced smalle
- 1 ΒΌ cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ΒΌ teaspoon Paprika optional
- Β½ teaspoon Black pepper cracked
Instructions
- Over medium - high heat, heat the oil (zeit) in a large pot. Add onions, fry until slightly golden, approximately 5-7 minutes.3 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 medium Onion
- Add beans (loubia), tomato and garlic. Stir through ensuring everything is coated in oil.1 kilo Green beans, 1 medium - large Tomato, 2 large cloves Garlic
- Add salt, pepper and paprika (optional), add water. Stir everything through.1 teaspoon Salt, ΒΌ teaspoon Paprika, Β½ teaspoon Black pepper, 1 ΒΌ cup Water
- Turn heat to low. Cover and braise for 25 - 30 minutes. Stirring every five minutes. Serve cold or warm.
Video
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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Frida
Such a delicious side dish making the most of fresh green beans when youβre bored of boiling them!
Ariana
This is amazing! I never beans could taste like I love that you can make it ahead! I am always looking for delicious recipes I can prepare ahead of time! Thanks for this yummy one!
Lina
Great recipe! I remember making something like this years ago and then I lost the recipe. Thanks so much for reminding me. I can't wait until our beans are ready in the garden to make this. My husband is going to love it!
Nathalie
These green beans combined with rice are delicious. So healthy and simple to prepare, thank you!
Toni
Such a perfect side dish!
Marwan
Atyab recette Loubia libanaise. ππππ
Cory
I made this for dinner and mixed it with rice like you do. it was great, light and I felt healthy. keep putting up the vegan Lebanese food please
Michael
This dish is originaly a Lebanese dish and it is not an arab dish it is Lebanese .. and you should not eat rice with it .. the one that you should have rice with it is Green beans with meat and it have only one common thing with this dish only the they both have beans in it π
plantbasedfolk
Calm down Michael, Lebanese people are Arabs. You have missed the whole point; this is a plant based recipe and doesn't include meat to accomodate for those who avoid animal products. My family loves it this way and we are of Lebanese and Armenian heritage. Thanks for stopping by!
Amanda
I love green bean recipes, I am new to trying anything Lebanese. I am happy to have found this delicious recipe.
Shona
this recipe was just as delicious as the photos look. Michael you need to relax, what law is broken if people want to eat it with rice. Who cares, I'm going to eat it with bananas just to make you relax more. Oh and she did mention it is a Lebanese recipe from her Lebanese family, or perhaps your eyes were bulging from your head whilst you were fuming over the rice and you missed that detail too.