Lebanese Bean Stew Recipes

LEBANESE GREEN BEAN STEW (LOUBIA B'ZEIT)

Steps:

• Peel and chop the onion into strips and the garlic finely, keeping them separate.
• Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a wide sauté pan and sauté the onions until caramalised on a low heat. This may take twenty minutes plus but is worth the effort.
• Follow by adding the chopped garlic to the onions. Saute for 1-2 minutes and take care not to burn the garlic.
• Wash and trim the ends of the green beans and sauté with the garlic and onion mix for ten minutes.
• Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, chilli and water.
• Bring to a boil and cover with a lid.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer, cooking for 30-40 mins until the beans are well done, taking care the sauce doesn't run dry.
• Serve with warm pitta bread.

LEBANESE STEW WITH RICE

Steps:

• In large bowl, rinse rice with cool water until starch is gone and water turns out clear.
• Repeat process with warm water.
• Drain completely, and add just enough HOT water to cover the rice.
• Set rice aside.
• In skillet, heat oil on high.
• Add beef and cook until browned.
• Add cinnamon and onion, saute until onions become brown and transparent.
• Add tomato and garlic, continue heating until garlic begins to cook.
• Transfer to large pot and add canned vegetables, potato, and tomato sauce.
• Cover and simmer on medium-low 45 minutes to an hour, or until potato is soft and beef is tender and cooked through.
• Reduce heat to low, set aside,.
• In large sauce pan, combine rice, water, oil and salt.
• Cook on medium for about 10 minutes, or until tender.
• Serve stew over bed of rice, enjoy with pita bread.

LEBANESE BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Soak the beans in water overnight. Drain and rinse.
• Cook the meat and garlic with olive oil in a pan.
• Once the meat is all browned, add the rest of the ingredients with the exception of the cilantro. Stir to deglaze the pan.
• Bring to a boil, add the cilantro, cover and simmer until the beans are fully cooked (between 30 and 40 minutes).
• You might need to add some water if it becomes too dry, so check on it every 10 minutes.
• Eat over cooked white rice.

LEBANESE GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Heat 3 Tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and continue to sauté for 2 minutes {if you are using meat, it can be added here and sautéed for an addition 4 minutes}.
• Add the green beans, cumin, cinnamon and diced tomatoes and mix together. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 40-45 minutes, or until green beans {and meat if using it} are tender, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasonings to taste as well as salt and pepper.
• Serve warm over rice or quinoa with a side of pita bread and yogurt.

LEBANESE LAMB AND BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Cover beans with cold water by 3 inches in a bowl and soak at room temperature at least 8 hours. Drain well in a colander.
• Bring lamb, baharat, and water (9 cups) to a boil in a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot, then vigorously simmer mixture, covered, until meat is almost tender, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Add beans and cook, uncovered, until beans are tender, about 1 hour more. Meanwhile, heat oil over moderate heat in a 12-inch heavy skillet until hot but not smoking, then cook onions, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring, until onions are pale golden and tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. When beans are tender, stir in tomato-onion mixture and simmer until just heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
• *A Middle Easterna and African ground-spice mixture that typically contains allspice, cinnamon, clove, cumin, Maras chile, and black pepper. Available at Middle Eastern markets and Formaggio Kitchen (888-212-3224; formaggiokitchen.com).

LEBANESE BUTTER BEAN STEW (FASOLIA RECIPE | + VEGAN VERSION)

Steps:

• If you're using dried beans, first make sure to rinse and then leave them to soak overnight (at least 8hrs).Then, on the day of making the stew, you'll first need to prepare the beef (if using). You could also cook the vermicelli rice in advance or cook it while preparing the butter bean stew.
• Tinned beans: drain and rinse the beans well, then bring the beans to a boil with 4 cups of water in a deep pot over medium heat. Remove the white foam from the top of the beans, then add ½ tsp salt and one bay leaf. Then cover the beans loosely with a lid (to stop the beans from overflowing). Simmer for 10 minutes. Then drain and rinse once more before setting aside.Technically, the tinned beans don't need to pre-cook before being added to the main pan. I just do so for extra tender results and a little extra flavor. Alternatively, you can add the beans to the pan before adding the tomatoes to the pan and add the bay leaf and salt to the pan.Dry beans: after soaking them overnight, rinse the beans well, then add them to a deep saucepan with 6 cups of water. You can then follow the method above. However, you'll need to simmer the beans for between 20-30 minutes instead.
• Separate the cilantro leaves from the stems and finely chop the stems. Then, store the leaves back in the fridge to keep them "fresh" (we'll be using them at the end).
• Slice the garlic and, if you're using fresh tomatoes, chop roughly and add them to a blender to process into a thick "juice."
• In a large, deep pot (or Dutch oven), heat the oil. Then add the chopped garlic and sauté for just 30-40 seconds over medium heat.
• Add the tomato paste and mix in before adding the crushed coriander seeds. Stir once more, then sauté for two minutes.
• Add the chopped cilantro stems and stir before adding the tomato juice. Mix once more, then allow the mixture to simmer over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes. During this time, it should reduce and thicken slightly.
• Add the cooked beef, beef stock, and beans to the pot. Then mix well, reduce the heat to low, and allow it to simmer for a further 10 minutes.For the vegetarian butter bean stew, add vegetable stock. You may also want to introduce extra fats with the addition of an additional tablespoon of olive oil. This will create a silky-smooth fasolia with a better mouthfeel.
• Add the salt and pepper (to taste), stir, and cook for two minutes before adding the lemon juice and removing the fasolia from the heat.
• Finally, add the cilantro leaves and gently fold them into the stew. Then serve it up along the sides of your choice.
• Store: allow the fasolia to cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.Freeze: make sure to store the bean stew in an airtight container/s for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.Reheat: you can reheat the fasolia on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated throughout.