Lebanese Bean Stew

4.99 from 51 votes

This one pot Lebanese bean stew is so easy to make and loaded with flavor. This weeknight meal is perfect for freezer dinners and is made with fresh and tasty ingredients.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Lebanese

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 143kcal

Author Yumna Jawad

Equipment

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped (plus more for serving)
3 garlic cloves minced
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 ounces tomato paste
2 15-ounce canned diced tomatoes
2 15-ounce can white beans
1 pound chicken breast
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon 7 Spice
Lebanese rice for serving

Instructions

In a heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil, then add the cilantro, garlic and crushed red pepper; cook until the mixture is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the tomato paste and cook together with the cilantro mixture until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the diced tomatoes and 4 cups of water and stir until well blended to create a tomato broth.
Reduce the heat to low, add the white beans, raw the chicken breast and bay leaves. Season with salt, pepper and 7 Spice and cook covered until the chicken is fully cooked, about 20 minutes.
Remove the bay leaves from the pot and discard. Remove the chicken breast from the tomato broth, shred it and return it to the pot.
Serve over traditional Lebanese rice pilaf and sprinkle fresh cilantro for garnish.

Notes

Storage: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and they will keep for around 4 days. You can also freeze the stew and it will keep for up to 3 months.

Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.

Instead of tomato paste, you can use one extra (15-ounce) can of diced tomatoes or one extra (15-ounce) can of tomato sauce.
Instead of 7 Spice, you can substitute any mix of paprika, cumin, coriander, ground cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and cinnamon
To make it vegan, just leave the chicken out. You can add other vegetables like potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant or zucchini.

* Please note the nutrition label does not include the rice.

Nutrition