Fasolia with Lebanese Rice

Fasolia with Lebanese Rice recipe also known as Middle Eastern Bean Stew. This is one of my favorite Arabic recipes to make in the winter time! Fasolia is a delicious Arabic lamb stew made with white beans, and a flavorful tomato based broth. It is served with fluffy delicious Lebanese rice, which is rice cooked with vermicelli noodles.

If you are new to cooking Arabic meals at home, firstly, welcome! I'm Rosemary I'm a stay at home mom and registered dietitian. I'm an American who married into a Jordanian family and I've learned so many delicious authentic Arabic meals from my in laws.

Fasolia is a perfect recipe to begin your Arabic cooking journey because, in my opinion, it is so easy to make! I made mine with the traditional ingredients and spices, but with a less than traditional cooking method to make it much easier for you: in my instant pot!

If you don't have an instant pot, that's totally okay, you can still make this Fasolia recipe the traditional way, with the same ingredients, on your stovetop.

Do you love Arabic food and want to learn how to make delicious authentic Arabic recipes at home? Make sure to read my complete guide on Cooking Arabic Food at Home!

WHAT IS FASOLIA MADE OF?

A classic Arabic cuisine dish, traditional fasolia is made of buttery tender lamb, white beans, and a flavorful tomato based broth. This is a very simple Middle Eastern dish that is filled with flavor and it is usually served with Lebanese rice on the side.

MY AUTHENTIC FASOLIA RECIPE INGREDIENTS LIST

Believe it or not, this recipe does not take very many ingredients at all! Here's what I use in my traditional Fasolia recipe, which is what my mother in law uses.

Fasolia Stew Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry white beans
• 2 tablespoons grass fed butter or ghee
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 3 ½ pounds chopped lamb cubes
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 teaspoons Arabic 7 spices
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 tomatoes par boiled with skin removed and chopped
• 3 cups bone broth

Some people also add green beans to their Fasolia. If you want to use green beans in yours, I would use about 2 cups.

Lebanese (Vermicelli) Rice Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons Butter or ghee
• ½ cup Vermicelli noodles
• 2 cups Basmati Rice
• Dash Ground Cinnamon
• Salt to taste
• 4 cups Bone Broth

HOW TO MAKE AUTHENTIC FASOLIA AT HOME

STEP 1: SOAK WHITE BEANS OVERNIGHT

In a bowl, add 1 cup dry white beans. Cover with cool water and rest on your counter overnight.

STEP 2: SAUTE ONION AND BROWN LAMB

Set your instant pot to sauté (if using stovetop, see notes below). Melt 2 tablespoons butter and add the yellow onion. Saute onion until it is soft and starting to brown.

Next, add the lamb to your pot.(Note, I sprinkle a little bit of salt, pepper, and 7 spices on my lamb before adding it to the pan so that more flavor is locked into the meat)Brown the lamb meat on all sides.

STEP 3: ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS AND PRESSURE COOK

Next, add all the rest of the stew ingredients to your instant pot:

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 teaspoon Arabic
• 7 spices
• 4 tablespoon tomato paste
• 4 tomatoes
• 3 cups bone broth

Cover your instant pot and set your pressure cooker to "sealing" or "natural release." Pressure cook on high setting for 25 minutes.

Once the timer is up, you can either release the pressure, or let it naturally release if you are waiting to serve dinner.

While the fasolia is cooking, I make the Lebanese rice so both are done at the same time.

STOVETOP FASOLIA RECIPE DIRECTIONS: To make an authentic Fasolia recipe over your stovetop instead, you can follow all the directions above the same way. Sauté the onion over medium heat on your stove. Then add the lamb and brown it on all sides. Reduce the heat to low and add all the other stew ingredients. Cover and let your fasolia cook until the beans are buttery soft. Stovetop will take longer than the instant pot, about 2 hours.

STEP 4: MAKE THE LEBANESE RICE

Fluffy perfect Lebanese rice. I experimented with my Lebanese rice recipe about 10 times before getting it right and I am so excited to share it finally!

In a large frying pan with 1 ½ inch side, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the ½ cup vermicelli noodles and toast, stirring constantly, until golden brown.

Next, add the 2 cups washed basmati rice. Sprinkle cinnamon and salt across the top. Stir to make sure the spices coat the rice evenly.

Add 4 cups broth, stir once more, cover with a tight fitting lid. Reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and rest 5 minutes before opening the pan.

Remove lid, fluff the rice and serve with the Fasolia stew, enjoy!

More Authentic Arabic & Middle Eastern Recipes (in English) you can make at home!

• Ouzi Chicken
• Ouzi Lamb
• Maqluba with Chicken or Lamb
• Galayet Bandora
• Dwali (Grape Leaves)
• Musakhan
• Galayet Bandora
• Shorbat Adas
• Sfiha
• Arabic Yellow Rice
• The Best Fluffy Hummus
• Arabic Chopped Salad
• Saniya Jaj
• Persian Pomegranate Chicken

No Arabic meal is complete without Arabic tea, make sure to try out my Authentic Jordanian Bedouin Tea Recipe!

FAQ'S

Frequently asked questions about Fasolia.

How to make Fasolia with green beans?

Fasolia is also commonly made with green beans, which I did not add this time. You can easily add 1-2 cups of frozen green beans along with the other ingredients before pressure cooking!

How many calories are in a Lebanese Fasolia?

One serving of my Fasolia recipe about 450 calories.

Can I use beef instead of lamb for Fasolia?

Yes! You can substitute the same amount of chopped beef cubes instead of lamb. Just keep in mind the flavor of the meat might be a little bit different.

If you try my Authentic Fasolia Recipe, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!