Lubiyeh wa Banadoura (Green Bean and Tomato Stew with Rice)

Another hit from Our Syria! We played fast and loose with the proportions here and it still turned out delicious; I suspect it will take quite a lot of variation.

The original calls for ground beef (if you are adding meat at all), and I have reproduced it thus; we used imitation vegetarian ground beef.

Lubiyeh wa Banadoura

Our Syria, p.119

Ingredients

• 225g ground beef [optional]
  
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
• 450g green beans, trimmed
• 6 large ripe tomatoes, diced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat the oil over medium-low heat in a large, deep skillet.
2. Add the onion and ground beef and cook until the onion is softened and the beef browned, 5-10 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and beans and fry for another 5 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes, bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for ten minutes.
5. Add the tomato paste, salt, and pepper, and continue to simmer for another 20-30 minutes.
6. Serve with olive oil and some sort of rice.