Loubieh bil Zeit
Tender green beans are gently braised with onion, garlic, tomato, and olive oil until silky and deeply savory. A touch of cinnamon and lemon gives the dish its characteristic Lebanese warmth and brightness. It is simple, comforting, and delicious served warm or at room temperature.
Ingredients
Loubieh
- 400 ggreen beans, trimmed and cut into 4-5 cm pieces
- 120 gonion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves (9 g)garlic, finely chopped
- 300 gripe tomatoes, grated or very finely chopped
- 15 gtomato paste
- 45 mlextra-virgin olive oil
- 60 mlwater
- 10 mllemon juice
- 1/4 tspground cinnamon
- 1 tspfine salt
- 1/4 tspblack pepper
To serve
- 5 mlextra-virgin olive oil
- 2 wedgeslemon wedges
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the vegetables: trim the green beans and cut them into 4-5 cm pieces, thinly slice the onion, finely chop the garlic, and grate or very finely chop the tomatoes so they melt quickly into the sauce.
- 2
Heat the olive oil in a wide sauté pan or shallow pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened and lightly golden at the edges; stir often so it sweetens without burning.
- 3
Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant. Mix in the tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until the tomatoes lose their raw smell and the oil begins to shine through the sauce.
- 4
Add the green beans and turn them in the tomato mixture for 1-2 minutes so they are well coated. Pour in the water, bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- 5
Cover and braise for 12-15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the beans are tender but not mushy and the sauce is thick. If the pan looks dry before the beans are done, add 1-2 tablespoons more water; if too wet at the end, uncover for the last 2 minutes to reduce.
- 6
Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Let the dish sit for 2 minutes so the flavors settle.
- 7
Spoon into a serving dish and finish with the extra olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature with lemon wedges on the side.
Nutrition per serving
Notes
- •A wide pan helps the beans cook quickly and evenly, which keeps this recipe within 30 minutes.
- •Grated tomatoes break down faster than chopped tomatoes and give a smoother, more traditional braised texture.
- •Loubieh bil Zeit is often served with pita, rice, or plain yogurt if you are not avoiding dairy.
- •The dish tastes even better after 30-60 minutes at room temperature, when the olive oil and tomato flavors meld.
Background
Loubieh bil Zeit is a classic home-style dish from the Levant, especially common in Lebanese kitchens. The phrase "bil zeit" means "in oil," referring to vegetables gently braised in olive oil, often with onion and tomato. It is part of the broader mezze and everyday cooking tradition that values simple ingredients and strong olive oil flavor.
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