This recipe proves that you don’t need elaborate ingredients to make a delicious vegetarian side dish. Made with simple ingredients, this tomato and olive oil-soaked braised Instant Pot green beans recipe can be served as part of a mezze platter or as an easy accompaniment to any main dish.
Table of Contents
Introduction
We’ve been eating more vegetarian food in the new year. It was a matter of time, I think. I’d had the same experience with my older kids, and so when my youngest daughter announced she’s becoming a vegetarian, I was ready!
I dug out my vegetarian binder of recipes and got to work planning out my new menu rotation. I’m sharing one of those recipes with you here.
Green beans braised with tomatoes is a popular recipe in Middle East and the Mediterranean and there are different variations of this dish all over the region.
This tomato and olive oil green beans recipe is known by different names including Loubieh Bi Zeit (Arabic) and Zeytinyağlı Fasulye (Turkish). The Greeks make a similar version of this recipe with potatoes called Fasolakia Lathera.
This Instant Pot green beans recipe is a comforting, almost stew-like dish that tastes great served the next day. The thing that surprises most people is that the beans are cooked very soft and super tender, not crisp-tender.
Although you could serve these green beans warm, they taste best when served at room temperature. They’re great as part of a mezze platter e.g. with hummus (chickpea dip), baba ganoush (eggplant dip), tabbouleh (parsley salad), or as a side dish with meat such as lamb.
Here are some recipes that would be great to serve with this recipe!
– Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma
– Instant Pot Lamb Biryani
– Instant Pot Chicken Curry
TIPS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Beans
I make this recipe with commonly available green beans. However, you can also use French beans (haricot verts), flat beans or runner beans.
If necessary, trim the ends and remove any fibrous strings that run along the seams of the beans.
Garlic
I like to add a lot of garlic to this recipe – I often use more than what called for in this recipe! Pressure cooking really tones down the garlic taste and it’s not overpowering. However, you can choose to use less garlic.
Leave the garlic whole or slice them up like I do. Or do both.
Olive Oil
This recipe is traditionally cooked with a generous amount of olive oil. Like 1/4 to 1/2 cup. I’ve reduced the initial quantity to 2 Tbsp, and then I drizzle another tablespoon of olive oil on top after pressure cooking.
You can definitely increase the quantity of olive oil by adding another tablespoon or more. It’s great for dipping crusty bread or pita into.
Sugar
I add 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar to this recipe and it really makes a difference to the taste. However, you can omit or reduce the sugar if you wish.
Pomegranate Molasses
Pomegranate molasses is available at Middle Eastern grocery stores or on amazon. I like the slightly sweet and sour taste that it contributes.
It’s a great condiment to have on hand for Middle Eastern recipes, salad dressings, marinades or to drizzle on roasted vegetables. If you can’t find it, you can omit it – it’s not essential.
You can also substitute a teaspoon of tomato paste and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Don’t stir the tomato paste in, just add it on top of all the ingredients and pressure cook.
Spices
This is a very simple recipe with minimal spices but believe me, it’s just so tasty even without extra spices. (And you know I love spices!)
But there are variations where cinnamon, allspice, paprika or baharat (a Middle Eastern blend of spices) are added. Experiment and see what you like best.
Cooking Time
If you’re used to cooking green beans tender-crisp, you’ll find these green beans to be a departure from the usual. The beans are cooked to the point that they almost melt in your mouth.
Increase or decrease the pressure cooking time to suit your tastes.
Serving
This dish is best served at room temperature or even cold. Like many stews, it tastes even better the next day. Serve with crusty bread or pita and with other Middle Eastern dishes as part of a mezze platter (e.g. hummus, baba ganoush or moutabal, muhammara, kebabs).
Optional toppings: Greek yogurt, chopped parsley, chopped mint
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, please read the Instant Pot DUO Beginner’s Quick Start Guide, Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Quick Start Guide, or Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus Beginner’s Quick Start Guide first and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe.
Instant Pot Green Beans – Ingredients
- Green beans
- Garlic
- Pomegranate molasses
- Salt
- Water
- Onion
- Tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Black pepper
- Sugar (optional)
How to Make Middle Eastern Green Beans in the Instant Pot (Step by Step Instructions)
- Turn on Saute Mode
- Saute onions and garlic
- Add vegetables and spices
- Pressure cook
- Quick-release pressure
- Stir beans and allow to cool
Turn on ‘Saute’ Mode
- Instant Pot DUO: Select the Saute function.
- Instant Pot ULTRA: Select the Saute function and press Start.
Saute Onions and Garlic
- Once the inner pot has preheated, add oil to the inner pot and let it heat up.
- Add onions and garlic and stir until onion is translucent, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Press Cancel.
- Add green beans.
Add Vegetables
- Add tomatoes and spices.
- Stir to combine.
Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 5 minutes
- Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in ‘Sealing’ position
- Press Manual (or Pressure Cook) and + or – until the display reads ‘5′ (5 minutes).
Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 5 minutes
- Close the lid.
- Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 5 minutes (00:05).
- Press Start.
Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)
- Instant Pot display will change to On.
- Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
- The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to Keep Warm mode and display ‘L0:00’ or ’00 00′ and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the DUO
- Move the steam release handle to Venting. Steam will come out of the steam release handle.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the ULTRA
- Press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
Stir Beans and Allow to Cool
- Stir the beans with a spatula.
- Allow the beans to cool down to room temperature before serving.
Instant Pot Green Beans (Middle Eastern Style)
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp olive oil divided, more to taste
- 1 cup onion diced
- 8 cloves garlic sliced (or whole)
- 1 lb. green beans trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pomegranate molasses
- 2 Tbsp water
Equipment
Instructions
- Press ‘Saute’ and add 2 Tbsp olive oil to inner pot of the Instant Pot.
- Once the oil is hot, add onion and garlic. Stir until onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in green beans, tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar, pomegranate molasses and water.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Do a Quick Release and open the Instant Pot.
- Gently stir everything together.
- Serve warm or allow to cool to room temperature before serving.
- Drizzle with remaining olive oil before serving.
Notes
- Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. cut beans, chopped onion, etc.
- See the blog post for more detailed recipe tips. You don’t want to miss any!
Nutrition
I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
If you loved this recipe, please give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below and please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!
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Sara
Very easy side dish. I cooked the green beans for 3 minutes and it was perfect. But didn’t use the pomegranite molasses. Thanks for sharing!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Thank you, Sara! I’m so glad to hear you tried it out. It’s such a simple recipe but different and tasty.