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Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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A humble but flavorful Lebanese classic, this vegetarian side dish of Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes is made with warm spices including cinnamon and allspice.

Liz scooping Lebanese green beans with tomatoes with a piece of pita bread.

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 Green Beans with Tomatoes are typically made with beef and served over Lebanese Rice Pilaf, we also enjoy eating them as a vegetarian side dish.

Why You’ll Love These Green Beans

  • It’s a naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan dish, so you can serve it to just about anyone!
  • Seasoned with Lebanese spices, it is simple but rich in flavor.
  • Packed full of veggies, it’s a great healthy option full of vitamins and nutrients.

Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Lebanese green beans with tomatoes on a white background.
  • Clarified butter: Also known as ghee, it is slightly nuttier tasting than regular butter.
  • Onion: I use a white onion which is mild in flavor but caramelizes beautifully.
  • Green beans: Also called French beans or string beans, they are a great source of Vitamin K as well as calcium and other nutrients.
  • Diced tomatoes: Canned tomatoes that are slightly soupy and already diced into easy to eat pieces, they are an easy and affordable ingredient used in lots of stews and roasts.
  • Tomato sauce: Tomatoes that have been cooked down and mixed with a blend of olive oil and spices.
  • Lebanese spice blend: A delicious and warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

How to Make Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes

Liz dicing a white onion.

Step 1. Start by dicing your onion and cutting your green beans (if using fresh).

Melting ghee in the bottom of a large pot.

Step 2. In a large pot, melt the ghee and add the diced onion.

Sautéing onions in ghee in a pot.

Step 3. Sauté the onions until they are slightly caramelized and translucent.

Adding frozen green beans to a pot.

Step 4. Then add the fresh or frozen green beans to the pot.

Adding Lebanese spice blend to green beans in a pot.

Step 5. Next sprinkle in the Lebanese spice blend and add the diced tomatoes, along with salt and pepper to taste.

Pouring tomato sauce over green beans in large pot.

Step 6. Then add the tomato sauce, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes.

Lebanese green beans with tomatoes garnished with fresh parsley in a white bowl.

Serve garnished with fresh parsley if desired, and enjoy your Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes!

Frequently Asked Questions

What pairs well with green beans and tomatoes?

Lebanese green beans would be delicious with Chicken Tawook or Beef Kafta. Serve with a Middle Eastern Syrian Salad dressed in lemon and garlic and dinner is done.

Should I blanche my green beans before I cook them?

Blanching green beans is beneficial if you plan to sauté them, but is not necessary when you plan on slow-cooking or stewing them.

Can I make my own Lebanese spice blend?

Yes you can! I would suggest using about 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and a pinch of ground allspice and salt.
An up close view of Lebanese green beans with tomatoes from the top in a white bowl.

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Delicious, comforting, and warm, you’ll enjoy these Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes even if you didn’t grow up eating them.

Your fork is waiting.

Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes

4.31 stars average
A twist on a classic main dish, this vegetarian side dish of Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes is made with warm spices including cinnamon and allspice.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Serves4
CourseMain Dish, Side Dish
Calories118

Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

  1. Heat clarified butter over medium high heat and saute onion until translucent, about 7-9 minutes, stirring frequently.
    1 tablespoon clarified butter or olive oil, 1 medium onion
  2. 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.
    4 cups green beans – cut in 2 inch pieces, 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, 15 ounce can tomato sauce, 2 servings All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 20.9gProtein: 3.8gFat: 3.9gSaturated Fat: 0.6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3.3gSodium: 1006mgFiber: 4.4gSugar: 6.9g

Have you tried this?

Let us know how it was!

4.31 from 82 votes (70 ratings without comment)

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62 responses to “Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes”

  1. Chuck Avatar
    Chuck

    Hi 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

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!! I’m Irish too!! :)

  2. Dee Avatar
    Dee

    Hello for the spices when you say 2 servings. How many tsp is that if I am using my own spice blends.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I would do 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and pinch ground allspice plus salt.

      1. Tiffani Avatar
        Tiffani

        I think I’m confusing myself with another response. 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and pinch of ground allspice is the amount needed for 2 servings?

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          This recipe is for four people and requires 2 servings of the spice blend so if you are only making 2 servings of green beans you only need one serving of the spice blend. :) The spice blend is 4 servings. Here’s the recipe: https://thelemonbowl.com/all-purpose-lebanese-spice-blend/

  3. Clayborn Avatar
    Clayborn

    It looks so yummy. I can’t eat it. beacause it is beautifull.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      haha I hope you do!

  4. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Can’t wait to surprise my Lebanese boyfriend with this recipe! Thank you!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I hope he loves it!!

  5. Vernice Avatar
    Vernice

    This recipe is absolutely gorgeous! I feel like I can just taste the richness of that tomato sauce from here…YUM!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      So good and so easy!

  6. Kristen Avatar
    Kristen

    Hi 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

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh 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!

  7. Anne Olson Avatar
    Anne Olson

    These 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!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!! Love the mint idea! We don’t but we put mint in almost everything!! :) especially salad!

  8. Find Your Fine Avatar
    Find Your Fine

    Thanks for these healthy and yummy recipe.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Enjoy!

      1. Find Your Fine Avatar
        Find Your Fine

        For sure!

  9. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    Hi- 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!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      It’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? :)

      1. Jessica Avatar
        Jessica

        Yes, thank you so much.

  10. lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain Avatar
    lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain

    OH. MY. GOODNESS. Pass me a big ass bowl. YUM!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      So damn good!