Lebanese Green Bean Stew (Loubia b'zeit)

Method7 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Before heating the pot, wash and trim the fresh green beans, chop the tomatoes, garlic and chilli, and have them ready. Chop the large onion (1) and put it in the pot with the 3–4 tablespoons mild olive oil.

   Uses 1 large onion, chopped · 3–4 tablespoons mild olive oil · Clean water to wash fresh green beans; discarded after rinsing

2. 2

   Step 2: Sauté the onion and oil from step 1 over low heat, stirring until caramelised, around 20 minutes.

   Check caramelised onion · 20 minUses Complete onion-and-oil pot; discarded bean-rinsing water excluded

3. 3

   Step 3: Add the chopped garlic (2) and half chilli to the caramelised onion pot from step 2. Sauté for around 1–2 minutes, checking from 1 minute and taking care not to burn the garlic.

   Check fragrant garlic · 1 minUses Complete caramelised onion-and-oil pot · 2 garlic cloves, chopped · ½ birds eye chilli, chopped

4. 4

   Step 4: Add the prepared fresh green beans (300 g) to the garlic-and-onion pot from step 3. Sauté for around 10 minutes, stirring until the beans turn vibrant green.

   Check sautéed green beans · 10 minUses Complete garlic-chilli-onion pot · 300 g fresh green beans, washed and trimmed before cooking

5. 5

   Step 5: Add the four chopped tomatoes, 1 tablespoon tomato concentrate, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ cup boiling stew water to the bean pot from step 4.

   Uses Complete sautéed bean-and-onion pot · 4 good-sized fresh tomatoes, chopped · 1 tablespoon tomato concentrate · ½ teaspoon salt · ½ cup boiling water for stew

6. 6

   Step 6: Bring the stew from step 5 to a boil, cover and reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for around 30 minutes, then check the beans are fully tender without falling apart; continue gently if needed.

   Check tender bean stew · 30 minUses Complete uncooked tomato-and-bean stew pot

7. 7

   Step 7: Serve the finished green bean stew from step 6 with ready fresh flatbreads if desired.

   Uses Complete cooked green bean stew · Optional ready fresh flatbreads to serve