Loubieh bil Zeit

Nutrition · per serving

Steps

1. 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.

   400 g green beans, trimmed and cut into 4-5 cm pieces120 g onion, thinly sliced3 cloves (9 g) garlic, finely chopped300 g ripe tomatoes, grated or very finely chopped
2. 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.

   45 ml extra-virgin olive oil120 g onion, thinly sliced
3. 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.

   3 cloves (9 g) garlic, finely chopped300 g ripe tomatoes, grated or very finely chopped15 g tomato paste1/4 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp fine salt1/4 tsp black pepper
4. 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.

   400 g green beans, trimmed and cut into 4-5 cm pieces60 ml water
5. 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. 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.

   10 ml lemon juice
7. 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.

   5 ml extra-virgin olive oil2 wedges lemon wedges

Origin & History

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.