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Loubieh bi zeit
Lubyeh bzeit: flat green beans braised in olive oil, tomato and garlic
In Lebanese homes loubieh bi zeit belongs to the 'bi zeit' family, vegetables cooked in olive oil and served cool, which turn up on the mezze table in summer and fill lunchboxes the next day. Flat runner beans or wide Romano beans are best: they soak up the garlicky tomato sauce and turn silky. It is eaten at room temperature with Arabic bread to mop the oil, and often with a few spring onions and radishes alongside. Chef's tip: cook the garlic only until it smells sweet before adding the beans; browned garlic turns the whole dish bitter.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat ¼ cup olive oil in a wide, heavy pan over a medium heat. Add 1 onion and cook for 5 minutes, until soft and translucent.
5 minStep 2: Add 8 garlic cloves and stir for 1 minute, just until fragrant and pale golden.
1 minStep 3: Add 1 ⅓ lb flat green beans (runner or Romano) and turn them in the oil for 5 minutes over a medium heat, until their colour brightens and a few spots blister.
5 minStep 4: Stir in 1 tbsp tomato paste, then 1 ⅛ lb ripe tomatoes, ¼ tsp ground allspice, ½ tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper and ½ cup water. Bring to a simmer.
2 minStep 5: Cover and cook over a low heat for 25–30 minutes, stirring now and then, until a bean bends easily with no squeak and the sauce is thick and glossy with oil pooling at the edges. A common mistake is pulling them off early: squeaky beans don't absorb the sauce.
28 minStep 6: Cool to room temperature before serving; the flavour improves after a night in the fridge. Bring back to room temperature and serve with bread.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 200 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does loubieh bi zeit take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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