loubiyeh bi zeit ( green beans in oil)

This dish is healthy, tasty and easy to prepare. Actually is one of my favorite because I always prefer the vegan side of food.

Loubieh bi zeit means green beans in oil and with these 2 words ( bi zeit) means without meat because it is cooked with chunks of beef or lamb as well. The mixture of the onions, garlic and tomatoes gives it an amazing and special flavor. This is one of the Lebanese dishes that you can eat at room temperature and is tastier the next day too.

Prep. time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 40 mins

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS:

1 kg. fresh green beans cut and washed

1 large onion

4 medium garlic gloves

4 medium tomatoes peeled and chopped

2 tbsp.olive oil

1/4 small and sweet red paprika

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. allspice

a pinch of cayenne pepper if desired

DIRECTIONS:

Chop the onion and the garlic gloves, put them in a large cooking pot with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Fry them over medium heat until light golden, add the tomatoes, the paprika which cut into small pieces then the beans. Stir them all together, cover and let it cook over medium heat for 10 mins. season with salt, allspice and the chili if you desire, which gives the dish an amazing flavor not a spicy taste. Cover the pot , once it starts boiling again reduce the heat and let it simmer for another 30 to 35 mins or until the beans are soft and tender. Sometimes you might need around half a cup of water while simmering depends on the kind of beans. Add the rest of olive oil after it is done and stir the beans before serving.

Bon appetit!!