Loubieh bi Zeit is a traditional vegan Palestinian dish that translates to "green beans in oil." It is a healthy and delicious dish typically served as a side or main dish. If you are a fan of cooking vegetables, you'll love this recipe.
The recipe includes a few simple ingredients and can be done quickly, where the green beans are cooked with olive oil and onions until tender. Adding fresh tomatoes and spices gives this recipe an extra delicious flavor.
You can check my green bean stew (fasolia) recipe, often cooked with meat and served with rice. Check my other delicious stew recipes, pea stew (bazella), mulukhiyah (jute mallow a green leafy vegetable), and asparagus lamb stew.
Don't like tomatoes make this recipe with eggs. Every time my mother cooks this recipe she splits the beans in half after cooking with onions, a portion to cook with tomatoes, and a portion with eggs, another delicious option. See details under variation and substitution.
What is Loubieh?
"Loubieh" or loubia refers to green beans in Arabic and is often available in early summer. These green beans are a staple in many traditional dishes, one of the most popular being "Loubieh bi Zeit," which translates to "green beans in oil."
This dish features green beans cooked in olive oil with tomatoes, onions, and spices, making it a flavorful and healthy option often served as a main dish.
While there are different types of green beans, such as romano beans, runner beans, flat green beans, and French green beans, all are very similar in texture, and often used in another popular Palestinian stew dish called fasolia the Arabic word for green beans. However, loubieh differs in shape and texture, the stems are thinner, and longer and maintain a slight chewy texture after cooking.
In Palestine, loubieh beans are not that long in shape. However, this version of loubieh beans, also called string beans, is known as sitaw in Filipino cuisine and is often found in any Asian market.
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Equipment
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Pot - To cook string beans.
Cutting Board - For chopping onions and cutting string beans.
Ingredients
Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Loubieh - fresh string beans can often be found at farmer's markets or Asian grocery stores. Its season is early summer so it's usually hard to find during other seasons.
Sweet or white onions - Finely chopped, adding flavor to this dish.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Good quality olive oil is recommended with this recipe.
Fresh Tomatoes - Fresh heirloom or ripe tomatoes are best to use with this dish. Using canned tomatoes is an option, however, the taste of using fresh tomatoes will greatly differ in flavor.
Instructions
Step 1 | Heat olive oil over medium heat in a pot. Add the chopped onion and sauté.
Step 2 | Continue to saute for 5-7 minutes and until onions are golden.
Step 3 | Wash the green beans and trim the ends. Cut into 2-inch pieces.
Step 4 | Add the string beans to the pot and stir to combine with onions.
Step 5 | Saute for 1-2 minutes, add 2-3 tablespoons of water, cover with the lid, then lower the heat. Stir occasionally and add more water if necessary to prevent sticking. Let them cook, stirring every 10-15 minutes until the beans are soft or tender.
Step 6 | Meanwhile, peel tomatoes and chop about square size.
Step 7 | Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes on medium-high heat until they break down and release their juices.
Step 8 | Cover the pot and let it simmer on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the tomatoes and beans are fully cooked. Add salt and allspice, and mix well.
Variation and Substitution
- You can use this recipe with romano beans fresh green beans or any other beans, the texture may differ but the results will still be good.
- You can add black pepper or cayenne pepper.
- You can add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste while adding tomatoes.
- Although this recipe tastes much better with fresh tomatoes you can still make it with canned tomatoes.
- You can add jalapenos while cooking the onions if you like this dish to be spicy.
- You can make these beans with eggs. Follow the steps of cooking the beans and instead of adding tomatoes, you can add 2-3 eggs over the beans, similar to scrambled veggies with eggs.
Experts Tips
- If the beans get too dry while cooking and prevent the bottom of the pot from burning, you can add more tap water while sauteeing the beans.
- Pour hot water over the tomatoes so the skin will peel easily.
- Make sure the beans are fully cooked before adding tomatoes. Adding tomatoes early on will slow the cooking of beans.
Storage and Reheating
- You can store the loubiyeh bi zeit in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Heat either in the microwave or place them on a skillet over medium/low heat, add 2-3 tablespoons of water, cover for 10 minutes.
- You can cook the beans the day before then add the tomatoes and spices the day of serving.
- You can cook the beans and freeze them before adding the tomatoes, then when ready defrost and add the tomatoes and spices the day of.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Yes, add 1 clove of chopped garlic and saute while sauteing onions.
Most Palestinian vegan recipes are served with fresh taboon bread or Arabic bread. You can skip the bread and enjoy it alone.
You can serve olives, jalapenos, radishes, green onions, and pickles with this dish.
Fasolia is a different type of green bean, often cooked with meat. And loubieh is often cooked as a vegan dish.
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More Delicious Recipes
Loubieh bi Zeit
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch/Dinner
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: Palestinian/Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Loubieh bi Zeit is a traditional vegan Palestinian dish that translates to "green beans in oil." It is a healthy and delicious dish typically served as a side or main dish. If you are a fan of cooking vegetables you're going to love this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500 g) string beans, trimmed and cut into 1-2inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped (or one 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon allspice
Instructions
- In a pot heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onions and sauté,
- Continue to saute for 5-7 minutes and until onions are golden.
- Meanwhile, wash the green beans and trim the ends.
- Cut beans into 2-inch pieces.
- Add the chopped string beans to the pot and stir to combine with onions.
- Saute for 1-2 minutes, add 2-3 tablespoons of water, cover the lid and then lower the heat.
- Stir occasionally add more water if necessary to prevent sticking.
- Let them cook for 30 minutes, stirring every 10-25 minutes until beans are soft or tender.
- Meanwhile, peel tomatoes and chop about square size.
- Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes and until they break down and release their juices.
- Cover the pot and let it simmer on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the tomatoes and beans are fully cooked.
- Add salt and allspice, and integrate everything well.
- Serve hot or room temperature, enjoy alone or with bread, next to pickles, olives, or green onions.
Notes
- If the beans get too dry while cooking and prevent the bottom of the pot from burning, you can add 2-3 tablespoons while sauting the beans.
- Pour hot water over the tomatoes so the skin will peel easily.
- Make sure the beans are fully cooked before adding tomatoes. Adding tomatoes early on will slow the cooking of beans.
Jeff says
I'm vegan and I'm always on the look for new recipes, I made this dish the other day and it turned out so delicious and easy to make. Thank you for the recipe.
Wafa Shami says
Hi Jeff, you are welcome, that's great to hear.
Summer says
Made this (used vegetable stock in place of oil to lower calorie) and it was amazing. Thank you for sharing simple recipes - easy to follow and delicious. Fellow Palestinian learning to cook with your help ❤️.
Wafa Shami says
Hello Summer, glad to hear that and happy that you found my blog helpful. That is one of the goals of this blog. Enjoy!