Braised Green Beans with Sausage

This Lebanese inspired dish consists of braised green beans in olive oil, garlic and tomato sauce (Loubieh Bi Zeit). Add fennel seasoned sausage crumbles for a complete and satisfying meal!

This easy sausage and green beans recipe is the perfect meal for a weeknight dinner. Serve with mushroom wild rice, garlic fried rice, a crusty bread for dipping in the sauce or naan bread.

Braised dishes have a spot in my heart. The anticipation and usually long(er) wait to eat something that you have been preparing is both comforting and exciting!

Braised recipes generally bring forth a saucy dish with deeper flavors and intense aroma, an irresistible broth and complexity that I love so very much. It brings back lots of childhood memories at my Grandmother’s kitchen, when she would often braise meats and vegetables slowly for hours on end.

Very nostalgic!

However, this braised beans and sausage recipe has its origins very far away from my Grandmother’s kitchen in Brazil. This sausage green beans recipe is inspired by a Lebanese dish called Loubieh Bi Zeit, a dish that consists of braised green beans in olive oil, garlic and tomato sauce.

To make this braised green beans a center meal rather then a side dish, I decided to add some sausage seasoned with fennel seeds. An overall delicious dish that shines together on the plate.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe For Braised Green Beans

Easy: Nothing complicated in this recipe and it comes together quickly and easily.

Tasty: The combination of spices, tomato sauce and sausage makes these green beans very flavorful.

Versatile: Green beans and sausage can be a side dish or a main meal.

What is braising?

Braising is a combination of cooking methods. Typically, the food is first sautéed or seared at high temperature, then finished in a covered pot at a lower temperature while sitting in some type of liquid.

What is the purpose of braising?

Braising technique is used to tenderize large, tough cuts of meat and fibrous vegetables through low, slow cooking.

How to braise meats and vegetables?

Most braising follows the same basic steps. The food to be braised is first pan-seared to brown its surface and enhance its flavor.

If the food will not produce enough liquid of its own, a certain amount of cooking liquid that often includes an acidic element is added to the pot. Sometimes foods with high water content can be cooked in their own juices.

The food is then transferred to a slow cooking method, typically in the oven but it can be done on stove top, covered and cooked at a very low simmer until tender.

Ingredients To Make Braised Green Beans and Sausage

• Sausages – Crumbled sausage, casing removed.
• Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil is best but any type will work.
• Onion – Small onion, chopped.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic, minced, is best but jarred will also work.
• Tomato sauce – Canned tomato sauce adds the rich broth.
• Fennel seeds – Fennel seeds enhance the meaty flavor of this braised dish.
• Smoked paprika – Smoked paprika adds a unique smoky flavor. If you don’t have any on hand you can use regular paprika but the taste won’t be the same.
• Salt and pepper – Add salt and pepper to taste.

How To Make Braised Green Beans and Sausage

Step 1: Wash and trim green beans and set aside.
Step 2: Saute onion and garlic in an oven safe skillet with the olive oil.
Step 3: Stir in the crumbled sausage and season with salt, pepper, fennel seeds and paprika. Step 4: Sauté until fully cooked and browned and then add in the green beans and tomato sauce and give it a stir. Make sure the green beans are mostly covered by the sauce.
Step 5: Cover the skillet and place in an oven preheated oven to 350F degrees and braise for 30 minutes. When cooking is complete, add a generous drizzle of olive oil and serve.

Tips and Variations

Use canned tomato instead of tomato sauce. If you don’t have tomato sauce in the pantry you can use canned tomatoes as is for a chunkier sauce or you can puree them in the blender for a smoother sauce.

Change up the spices. Use other herbs like oregano, basil or thyme to change the flavor profile of this dish.

Sprinkle with some cheese. Grate some parmesan or crumble feta over top if you are cheese lover.

Use vegetarian sausage. Make a meatless dish using vegetarian sausage.

Make ahead and storage

This recipe for green beans and sausage can easily be made ahead of time however the green beans may turn out to be a little softer once they are reheated. They will still taste great but just won’t have the same texture. Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat over the stove, in the oven or in the microwave.

FAQS

Favorite Mediterranean Inspired Recipes

• Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp
• Instant Pot Mediterranean Quinoa
• Mediterranean Lentil Quinoa Rice Salad
• Easy Shakshuka Recipe

If you make this Braised Green Beans with Sausage recipe be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating!

I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thanks a bunch!