Loubia or Loubya is a vegetarian green bean dish, a really simple one to prepare that’s healthy and delicious! This dish is also known as Lebanese green beans, since it’s so commonly eaten in Lebanon and surrounding countries. You prepare the green beans with just a few ingredients and eat it with pita bread, room temperature or cold.
What is Loubia?
That is the literal translation of beans in Arabic. Fasolia can refer to white beans, or green beans. In this recipe, we are referring to standard green beans, also known as fasolia bilzait, where the green beans are prepared with just a few simple ingredients to make a lovely vegetarian dish. When you see the word loubia or loubya it all means this recipe here!
Why should I make this dish?
It’s so easy to make, especially using frozen green beans and canned diced tomatoes
Fasolia tastes delicious in this preparation, the handful of ingredients really make the dish shine.
Loubya a vegan dish, and a really healthy one at that. Lots of protein, fiber, and some good fat from the olive oil.
Lebanese green beans are really versatile. You can enjoy them plain, scooped up with pita bread, or with rice. They are also yummy hot, room temperature or cold.
Ingredients you need to make loubia:
Olive oil- preferably good quality olive oil as it’s essential to the flavor of the dish.
Onion and Garlic- Plenty of these that you really cook down and soften, they’ll give the dish the majority of it’s flavor. I like using crushed garlic as well as whole cloves. The whole cloves soften and sweeten and become so good when you scoop them up with some bread.
Frozen green beans- You don’t even need to defrost them, and I like using the frozen packs that are already cleaned and trimmed to really cut down on prep time.
Canned diced tomatoes- You can also use fresh, but the canned are so convenient. I’d go with a smaller dice like petite diced if available.
Salt, black pepper, and ground coriander: Literally the only seasoning you need.
How to make Lebanese green beans:
- Heat the olive oil, and once hot add the diced onion, minced garlic, and whole garlic cloves. Cook until softened.
- Add the green beans, and cook for a good 10 minutes or so until cooked through.
- Add the diced tomatoes and all the seasoning, plus a splash of water if needed to get the dish saucier. Simmer for about 10 minutes until tomatoes have broken down and beans have tenderized further.
- Enjoy!
What to serve Loubia with:
This is traditionally eaten at room temperature or cold, and served simply with pita bread. You use the pita bread to scoop up a spoonful of beans, with a little tomato sauce. So good!
You can eat this plain without bread, and my kids like having this with a little white rice. All good!
Storing leftover green beans:
Leftovers can be stored tightly covered for 4-5 days in the fridge. They can be eaten cold, or warmed up slightly.
If you liked this recipe, you might like:
Fasolia Baida- Lebanese White Bean Stew
Loubia- Lebanese Green Beans
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped finely
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 whole garlic cloves (optional but recommended)
- 15 oz bag of frozen green beans 450-500 g
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes OR 3 tomatoes, finely chopped 15oz, 400g
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- splash of water if needed
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat, then add the onions and garlic (both minced and whole). Saute, stirring frequently for 5-6 minutes until onions have softened.
- Add the green beans (you don't really need to thaw them), and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beans fully cook through.
- Add the diced tomatoes, salt, pepper and ground coriander, and mix. If there isn't enough sauce, add a splash of water. Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 10 minutes. Serve with pita bread and enjoy immediately, or cold!
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