Green Bean Stew (YAKHNIT LOUBIEH)

Green Bean Stew (YAKHNIT LOUBIEH)

Green Bean Stew (YAKHNIT LOUBIEH) is very popular dish in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. It can be prepared with either beef or lamb.

Ingredients - Green Bean Stew:

• 1 lb (500g) fresh green string beans
• 1 lb (500g) stewing meat, cubed (Beef or Lamb)
  
• several meat bones
• 1 ½ cups onions, chopped
• ½ cup ghee or substitute
• 1½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon mixed spices
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste blended with 2 ½ cups water
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  

Preparation - Green Bean Stew:

1 String the beans. Slice down the centre or leave whole.

2 Lightly brown the meat, bones and onions in the ghee, using the pot in which the stew is to be cooked. Mix in the beans and fry for a few minutes. Add the salt, pepper and mixed spices, then pour in the tomato paste or soup diluted with water.

3 Bring to the boil, cover and simmer slowly until the meat is very tender.

4 Crush the garlic with a pinch of salt and fry with the coriander in a little ghee until the garlic smells sweet. Stir this mixture into the cooking stew.

5 Serve with Rice Pilaf or Bur’ghul Pilaf.

You may substitute peas for beans to make green Pea Stew.