A classic vegetarian Lebanese side dish recipe, green beans are slowly simmered in tomatoes and warm spices including cinnamon and allspice.
Comfort food means different things to different people. For me and my family, the most comforting dishes are the Lebanese recipes of my childhood, passed down over the generations.
While Lebanese stewed green beans are typically made with beef and served over rice pilaf, we also enjoy eating them as a vegetarian side dish topped with a dollop of plain yogurt or cucumber laban.
The star of the dish is the rich tomato sauce seasoned with warm Lebanese spices including cinnamon and allspice. For a Greek twist, you could also try adding fresh dill.
These Lebanese green beans would be delicious with Chicken Tawook, Beef Kafta, or my Hummus with Ground Lamb. Serve with a Middle Eastern Syrian Salad dressed with lemon and garlic and dinner is done.
Your fork is waiting.
Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon clarified butter or olive oil ghee
- 1 medium onion diced
- 4 cups green beans - cut in 2 inch pieces fresh or frozen
- 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 servings All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend
Instructions
- Heat clarified butter over medium high heat and saute onion until translucent, about 7-9 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Stir in green beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and Lebanese spices. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Simmer until beans are tender, about 20-30 minutes or longer if you wish.
Nutrition Information:
ArabicJo87
April 9, 2019 at 3:00 pmThis was AMAZING. I am half Lebanese and Syrian and I have to admit, it’s better than my mom’s recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
April 12, 2019 at 10:21 amAhh you just made my day!!!
Katie C
December 10, 2018 at 3:51 pmHi there.
I made your Lebanese spice blend, Above, it says ‘2 servings’ of Lebanese spice blend. How much is a serving? Thanks! This dish looks delicious!
Liz DellaCroce
December 10, 2018 at 7:55 pmSorry for the confusion! It’s per serving of the spice blend which is listed in the spice blend recipe – a serving is 1 teaspoon. :) ENJOY!!
Natalie
September 20, 2018 at 11:32 pmHi. Im an Aussie and just wanted to clarify what u mean by tomato sauce. In Australia, tomato sauce is ketchup. So do u mean like a tomato paste ie Like the kind you use on a pizza base? Or is it something more liquid than that?
Liz DellaCroce
September 21, 2018 at 10:24 amTomato sauce in the US is basically pureed tomatoes. Do you have tomato puree? :)
Chuck
August 23, 2018 at 7:23 amHi Liz,
My Irish-Polish wife has a Ayrian cousin and my wife would rave about this Green Bean in Tomato sauce dish that she would have as a child. Well, I made this and we both loved it. The spices blend so well with the tomato sauce. I did serve it over rice and it was a fantastic stand-alone dinner! Thank you for adding to my repertoire! Hi
Liz DellaCroce
August 24, 2018 at 7:31 amOh I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!! I’m Irish too!! :)
Dee
April 7, 2018 at 9:48 amHello for the spices when you say 2 servings. How many tsp is that if I am using my own spice blends.
Liz DellaCroce
April 7, 2018 at 2:25 pmI would do 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and pinch ground allspice plus salt.
Clayborn
August 5, 2017 at 7:26 pmIt looks so yummy. I can’t eat it. beacause it is beautifull.
Liz DellaCroce
August 7, 2017 at 9:31 pmhaha I hope you do!
Amy
July 4, 2017 at 2:36 pmCan’t wait to surprise my Lebanese boyfriend with this recipe! Thank you!
Liz DellaCroce
July 5, 2017 at 11:58 amI hope he loves it!!
Vernice
June 21, 2017 at 9:11 pmThis recipe is absolutely gorgeous! I feel like I can just taste the richness of that tomato sauce from here…YUM!!
Liz DellaCroce
June 22, 2017 at 12:38 pmSo good and so easy!
Kristen
January 3, 2017 at 2:18 pmHi Liz,
As part Syrian, this has also been a staple meal in my family since my grandmother’s time. I usually make it as the main course, served over rice, but it can also be a side dish. Delicious and low calorie! The only thing I do differently is also add carrots.
As you mentioned, Greeks have a similar meal (that’s the other half of my ethnicity.)
Thanks!
-Kristen
Liz DellaCroce
January 3, 2017 at 5:53 pmOh my gosh I am craving it again just reading your message!! Thanks Kristen – let me know if you try any other of my family’s recipes. We are Syrian too!
Anne Olson
December 6, 2016 at 11:13 pmThese green beans and tomatoes were delicious! I made the spice blend and that along with bit of onions and tomatoes, and cooking the beans so they were soft made this excellent. My best friend is half Lebanese and makes a similar dish without the tomatoes. I love the addition of those. She also puts a bit of dried mint into her pasta sauces and they taste so good and a bit different. Do you do that?
Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
December 9, 2016 at 12:14 pmI’m so glad you enjoyed it!!! Love the mint idea! We don’t but we put mint in almost everything!! :) especially salad!
Find Your Fine
November 3, 2016 at 3:33 amThanks for these healthy and yummy recipe.
Liz DellaCroce
November 3, 2016 at 9:49 amEnjoy!
Find Your Fine
November 4, 2016 at 3:01 amFor sure!
Jessica
November 2, 2016 at 4:59 pmHi- Love your recipes! I wold love to make this dish but can you please clarify what “two servings of Lebanese spice blend” would be? Do i make two batches of the spice blend recipe or do I use half (since spice blend recipe says 4 servings)? Thank you for a response!
Liz DellaCroce
November 3, 2016 at 9:50 amIt’s two servings not batches so YES you would make one batch and use half of it (2 servings out of the 4 total.) Does that make sense? :)
Jessica
November 4, 2016 at 1:15 pmYes, thank you so much.
lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain
November 2, 2016 at 9:34 amOH. MY. GOODNESS. Pass me a big ass bowl. YUM!!
Liz DellaCroce
November 3, 2016 at 9:50 amSo damn good!