A traditional Middle Eastern beef stew recipe with green beans and tomatoes; otherwise known as fasolia. I share both the stove-top and slow-cooked beef stew versions today.
Season the beef with salt and pepper, and coat lightly on all sides with the all-purpose flour.
In a Dutch oven or heavy cooking pot, heat 1 tbsp olive oil. Brown the beef on all sides. Remove the beef from the cooking pot and set it aside briefly.
Add the chopped onion and garlic to the heated pot; toss briefly on medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Mix in the allspice, paprika, cinnamon, coriander, a dash of salt and pepper. Cook on medium-high for 3 minutes or so.
Return the beef back to the pot; add the water and bay leaf.
Bring everything to a boil for 5 minutes, then cover and simmer on low for 1 1/2 hours.
Uncover and stir in the frozen green beans and add a small dash of salt. If needed, add a little more water (I did not). Stir once and cover to simmer on low for another 45 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and remove the pot from the heat.
Transfer the beef stew into serving bowls over rice or with your favorite bread. Garnish with the toasted pine nuts and fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Slow-cooked beef stew recipe with green beans: once the beef has been lightly seasoned with salt and pepper then coated with the flour, simply place it in a 5-quart slow cooker. Add the onions, garlic, the remaining ingredients minus the pine nuts and parsley. Slightly less water is fine here. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or so, until the beef is tender. Taste to adjust salt and spices to your liking. Serve in bowls with white rice or pita. Garnish with pine nuts and parsley.
Recommended for this Recipe: Our Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives!)