Green Beans with Tomatoes-فاصوليا خضرة

This is a vegetarian dish that we serve as a side dish or a main dish with rice.
I used frozen Italian green beans, but you can use regular frozen or fresh cut green beans.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper or Arabian spices
1 pound frozen Italian green beans
1 8- ounces tomato sauce
1 medium tomato, chopped
11/2 cup water
In a deep pan, heat the oil and add the onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add salt and seasonings. Add the green beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes or until the green beans are cooked.
Serve with plain white rice or saffron rice. Enjoy

Lamb Shank with White Beans Stew-Fasulia Beitha

4 lamb shanks

1 large onion chopped

1 pound white dry beans

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper or Arabic spice(Baharat)

2 dried limes (noomi Basra) optional

8 cups water



Soak the white beans in water overnight. Drain the beans. In a pot, saute the lamb shanks in oil. Add onions,water and beans and bring to a boil for 20 minutes. Lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. When shanks are tender, add tomato paste, noomi basra, salt and spices. Cook for 30 more minutes. You could add more tomato paste if needed.
Serve with white plain rice.

You can buy dried limes from Middle Eastern markets. Wash them before using them. Crush them and remove the seeds. Drop them in the soup and leave them to boil for 15 minutes. They will add a sour flavor to the sauce.