Fasolia Blahme (Green Bean Stew with beef)

Tender beef is slowly cooked with green beans, tomatoes, and cinnamon, onions, garlic, and spices to create a delicious Syrian dish served traditionally over rice pilaf.

It is an easy and healthy dish for your busy days if you have ready cut green beans.

There are two ways to cook green beans either as a dish eaten with meat and rice or its vegetarian version where the beans are cooked in oil.

If fresh beans aren’t available, you could substitute frozen green beans.

1 pound beef stew meat cut in cubes

1 pound green beans trimmed and cut in 2 in. pieces

1 medium onion diced

32 ounces crushed tomatoes

1 tablespoon cinnamon

½ tablespoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

¼ cup parsley chopped

rice pilaf  to serve

Trim and wash the green beans and cut them.

Peel and cut the garlic.

Heat the oil then add the onion and garlic and stir for a minute until they start to turn yellow.

Add the meat and brown it until done, then add the tomato and green beans and water. Stir and cook for 40-45 minutes on medium heat until they are done.

Stir occasionally to check the liquid level. Add some water if necessary. Add the spices and salt half way through.

Serve hot with rice

Lara Khouli