Loubieh bi Zeit is a traditional Lebanese green beans dish. The braised green beans are cooked with tomato, onion and garlic until tender. This is a vegan and gluten-free recipe.
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Mum would always make me sit beside her and prepare the beans, gosh I really despised this task, it was such a chore for a young kid.
Now, as an adult, I find it somewhat therapeutic. The brain switches off and my hands get to work, cutting the tips off and snapping the green beans into mouth-sized pieces.
Loubieh bi Zeit (or lubia bzeit or loubia bi zeit) is a traditional Lebanese meal that is already vegan. “Loubieh” in English translates to “beans” and “bi zeit” translate to “in oil”.
Fresh beans and dried beans are an integral part of the Lebanese diet. There are many delicious recipes such as Lebanese kidney bean stew, ful akhdar bi zeit (green broad beans in oil or black eyed beans with greens.
😋Why you’ll love this recipe
- Very flavoursome, sweet from the semi caramelised onions & braised green beans and a tad acidic from the tomato
- Easy to cook using easy ingredients
- Can be made ahead
- It’s both vegan and gluten free
- Only one pot needed to prepare
- Enjoyed cold as part of a mezze or rolled up in pita bread
✔️What You’ll Need
I like to keep the ends of the fresh green beans - less wastage.
🥘Ingredient Notes
Green beans (string beans) is best used fresh. Select only food quality beans. You will need to trim off the stalk tip and then snap (or cut) the beans into mouth-sized pieces.
I usually snap the green beans into 3-4 pieces, about 3-4cm (just over an inch) long.
Tomato is diced small and added for a little acidity enhancing the flavour of the beans and the onion. Use fresh tomato for best results.
Onion with white or brown onion will work well. Dice up small.
Garlic is a key flavour, you can add more if you’re a garlic lover. Garlic can be crushed or thinly sliced.
Avocado oil - Originally this recipe calls for a lot more oil (hence the name bi zeit or bzeit - in oil) and is usually made with olive oil and a little vegetable oil to fry off the onion. I have since reduced the amount of oil (zeit) and subbed in avocado oil*. Not one person in my family has noticed the difference in taste.
Salt my go-to is Himalayan salt* as a little goes a long way and it has many health benefits too.
Black pepper is best when freshly cracked*. This combined with paprika*, which is optional, gives a slight pepperiness to loubieh bi zeit.
🔪Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1 - Over medium-high heat, heat the oil (zeit) in a large pot. Add onions, fry until slightly golden, approximately 5-7 minutes.
Step 2 - Add green beans (loubia), tomato and garlic. Stir through ensuring everything is coated in oil.
Step 3 - Add salt, pepper and paprika (optional), add water. Stir everything through.
Step 4 - Turn heat to low. Cover and braise for 25 - 30 minutes. Stirring every five minutes. Green beans should be completely tender.
Step 8 - Serve cold or warm.
💭Pro Tips
The last 10 minutes of cooking Lebanese green beans is crucial. Check the beans and ensure the bottom of the pot has enough juice. If required top up with a ¼ cup of water. 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.
Storage - braised green beans can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Variations
Green beans (string beans) can be substituted with flat beans (romano beans). I have made this many times before and it is equally delicious.
🍲FAQ
Loubieh in English translates to green beans. Loubieh can also be spelt as lubia, loubiyeh or loubia.
🍴Serving suggestions
Loubieh bi zeit can be eaten as part of a wider spread of little meals, called mezze. It can also be enjoyed rolled up in Lebanese bread (pita bread) with a side of salad such as fattoush salad. Sometimes we like to enjoy it with Lebanese vermicelli rice, even though braised green beans is normally enjoyed cold.
Use bread to mop up the juices.
🥘Related recipes
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Janelle x
📖 Recipe
Loubieh bi Zeit (Lebanese green beans - Loubia)
Ingredients
- 1 kilo Green beans trimmed and cut into bit sized pieces
- 3 tablespoon Avocado oil sub olive oil
- 1 medium Onion diced small
- 2 large cloves Garlic crushed
- 1 medium - large Tomato diced smalle
- 1 ¼ cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika optional
- ½ 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.
- Add green beans (loubia), tomato and garlic. Stir through ensuring everything is coated in oil.
- Add salt, pepper and paprika (optional), add water. Stir everything through.
- Turn heat to low. Cover and braise for 25 - 30 minutes. Stirring every five minutes. Serve cold or warm.
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 🙂
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!