Green beans, tomatoes, almonds and chickpeas are simmered up in a lightly spiced tomato base to make this cozy and flavorful Lebanese-inspired green bean stew. It’s comforting, healthy and delicious!
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. This green bean stew is a perfect example of that.
The recipe was inspired by loubieh, an absolutely delicious Lebanese dish that I first tried at a restaurant a few years ago. I loved it so much and asked the server what was in it. It turned out to be not that much! Green beans, tomatoes, and some simple seasonings — that’s it!
I felt compelled to create my own version of loubeih, and it’s been a household favorite ever since. We love this stuff, especially during the summer when fresh green beans from the garden are abundant. I’ve served this stew as a side as well as as a main dish, paired up with accompaniments like roasted garlic hummus and pita bread, turmeric rice, or salad.
I made a few changes from traditional loubieh in this recipe, namely with the inclusion of chickpeas and almonds, mainly for some extra texture and to bulk up the dish so it’s substantial enough to serve as a main course. You can absolutely leave them out if you’re a purist though.
However you make it, I think you’ll be amazed at the deliciousness of this easy stew!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Olive oil. Olive oil really adds to the flavor of this dish. I don’t recommend substituting another type of oil.
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Ground cumin.
- Vegetable broth. I’m a big fan of Better Than Bouillon in seasoned vegetable flavor, but feel free to use your favorite.
- Diced tomatoes.
- Tomato paste.
- Fresh green beans. Other types of garden beans with a similar texture and flavor to green beans can absolutely be used here. I love growing an heirloom variety known as Dragon Tongue Beans, and they work great in this stew! Some types of beans cook quicker of slower than basic green beans, so adjust the simmer time if needed.
- Chickpeas. We’re using canned chickpeas to make things easy. Feel free to cook your chickpeas from scratch if that’s your preference.
- Slivered almonds. Prefer a different variety of nut? Go for it! I think pine nuts or hazelnuts would be delicious.
- Salt and pepper.
- Fresh parsley.
How It’s Made
The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you’d like to skip right to the recipe!
Start by browning diced onion in olive oil. Cook the onion over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until it just starts to caramelize. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning.
Once the onion has just started to brown, raise the heat a bit and add minced garlic and ground cumin. Cook the mixture briefly, making sure to stir it constantly.
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, green beans, chickpeas and almonds to the pot.
Give everything a stir, raise the heat, and bring the liquid to a boil.
Lower the heat and cover the pot. Let the stew simmer with the lid on for about 10 minutes. This will speed up the beans cooking, which can otherwise take forever.
Remove the lid from the pot and let it continue simmering uncovered, until the beans are as tender as you’d like them and the sauce is thick. Add a splash of water at any point if it gets too thick.
Take you green bean stew off of heat and season it with some salt and pepper to taste. Top it with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and it’s ready to enjoy!
Prep-Ahead Tips
Save time on the day of serving your stew by doing any of the following steps in advance:
- Dice the onion and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two.
- Cut the green beans into 2-inch pieces a day or two in advance, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Leftovers & Storage
Leftovers of this stew keep really well. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Vegetable Stew Recipes
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Lebanese-Inspired Green Bean Stew
Green beans, tomatoes, almonds and chickpeas are simmered up in a lightly spiced tomato base to make this cozy and flavorful Lebanese-inspired green bean stew. It’s comforting, healthy and delicious!
Ingredients
-
2
tablespoons
olive oil -
1
medium onion,
diced -
5
garlic cloves,
minced -
1
teaspoon
ground cumin -
1 ½
cups
vegetable broth -
1
(14 ounce/400 gram) can
diced tomatoes -
2
tablespoons
tomato paste -
12
ounces
fresh green beans,
cut into 2 inch pieces -
1
cup
canned chickpeas
drained and rinsed -
½
cup
slivered almonds -
Salt and pepper,
to taste -
Fresh parsley,
finely chopped, for serving
Instructions
-
Coat the bottom of a medium pot with the oil and place it over medium-low heat.
-
When the oil is hot, add the onion. Cook the onion for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it just begins to brown and caramelize.
-
Raise the heat to medium, then add the garlic and cumin to the pot. Cook the garlic and cumin with the onion for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes very fragrant.
-
Stir in the broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, green beans, chickpeas and almonds. Raise the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil.
-
Lower the heat until the mixture is at a low simmer. Cover the pot and allow everything to simmer for about 10 minutes, just until the green beans begin to soften.
-
Uncover the pot and let the stew continue simmering for 20 to 30 minutes, until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened up (see Note). You can add water during simmering if it thickens too much.
-
Remove the pot from heat and season the stew with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Divide into bowls and garnish with parsley. Serve.
Recipe Notes
Feel free to simmer the stew longer if you prefer softer beans, or more briefly if you prefer them firmer.
Nutrition Facts
Lebanese-Inspired Green Bean Stew
Amount Per Serving
Calories 285
Calories from Fat 132
% Daily Value*
Fat 14.7g23%
Saturated Fat 1.7g9%
Sodium 487mg20%
Potassium 837mg24%
Carbohydrates 32.1g11%
Fiber 9.3g37%
Sugar 6.8g8%
Protein 10.8g22%
Calcium 90mg9%
Iron 3.4mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
