Green beans in tomato and olive oil (Loubieh bi zeit)

1. Trim the green beans and snap them into 4-5 cm pieces.

2. Grate the tomatoes (the skins stay in your hand), or peel and chop them finely.

3. In a pan soften the sliced onion in the olive oil for 5 minutes, then add the whole or halved garlic cloves and fry for 1 minute.

4. Add the beans and toss in the oil for 5 minutes until bright green.

5. Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper, cover and braise over low heat for 30-35 minutes until the beans are completely tender and the sauce has thickened.

6. Cool to room temperature and serve with pita.

Tip: Loubieh bi zeit is a classic of the Lebanese bi zeit dishes: best lukewarm or cold, and even better the next day. Here the beans are not cooked crisp but fully soft and saucy, so they absorb the taste of tomato and olive oil.