Green beans with tomatoes loubieh bil zeit

For loubieh bil zeit, rinse the green beans under cold water, trim both ends and snap them into halves or thirds. Cut the tomatoes into the smallest dice you can, so they break down into a sauce. Finely chop the onion.

Heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan or saucepan over medium heat and add the chopped onion. Saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Add the crushed or finely grated garlic and saute for another minute until fragrant. The base is ready.

Add the green beans and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Cover with a lid and braise over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through. The beans are done when tender and the tomatoes have collapsed into a thick sauce. Taste it. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if needed.

Let the dish cool for a few minutes and serve warm or at room temperature. Just before serving, drizzle with fresh lemon juice and scatter over chopped parsley. Serve it generously. It goes wonderfully with pita bread or as part of a larger Lebanese meze.