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Loubia – Moroccan White Beans

This has always been my very favorite Moroccan food to eat. Beans. Just beans with tomatoes and spices and crusty bread. My mother-in-law spoils us by baking fresh bread so often we usually have freshly baked bread when eating Moroccan White Beans.

moroccan white beans

Moroccan White Beans – Loubia

Moroccan White Beans, or Loubia, is very simple, and very quick, and equally delicious. I use dried beans soaked in water all day but you can also use canned beans cooked on the stove top. This one of my favorite quick and simple healthy recipes!

I’ve been eating Moroccan food for so many years and Moroccan white beans will always be one of my very favorite recipes. It’s so much like tomato soup but the beans give it some extra depth and nutrition. In Moroccan culture, the way to eat anything is with homemade bread. You tear a piece, put it in your right hand between the first 2 fingers and scoop up the beans and sauce and complete it using your thumb. You use your thumb to keep the food in place until it gets to your mouth.

In Moroccan culture the act of eating is so much more than just filling your belly. It’s savoring food. It’s enjoying the company you keep. It’s being thankful to God for all that you have.

White Beans are So Nutritious!

Beans are the most complete and nutritious food and make great healthy recipes. Beans have more protein than most other vegetables and they are full of energy-sustaining complex carbohydrates, folate and fiber. Here are just a few of the benefits of beans: lowered cholesterol levels, improved blood glucose control, lowered risk of many cancers, lowered blood pressure, and regulated colon functions.

Moroccan White Beans Loubia

Do you know how to use a pressure cooker? Here’s a post on cooking with a pressure cooker.

You can also use an electric pressure cooker which may be a little less scary but still fast and efficient. You can also make this in the Thermomix! I love my new Thermomix – we just made Loubia the other day using this and it was delicious and easy.


Make It a Meal

Combine this Moroccan White Beans recipe with these other recipes to make it a complete meal!

Moroccan Semolina Homemade Bread Recipe

Moroccan Semolina Homemade Bread Recipe


Cucumber Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing

Delicious Moroccan Recipes

Moroccan Loubia Recipe

  • Ingredients
  • 1 lb. dry white Cannellini beans soaked overnight and drained
  • 3 ripe tomatoes grated
  • 1 medium onion grated
  • 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped or pressed
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste (optional)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions

Pressure Cooker Method for Making Loubia:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a pressure cooker.
  2. Add 2 liters (about 2 quarts) of water, and bring to a simmer.
  3. Cover, bring to pressure, then cook on pressure over medium heat for about 40 minutes, or until the beans are tender.
  4. If the beans are still submerged in sauce, reduce the liquids until the sauce is thick and not watery.
  5. Adjust the seasoning if desired, and serve.

Pot Method for Making Loubia:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a large pot.
  2. Add 2 quarts of water, and bring to a simmer.
  3. Cover and simmer the beans over medium heat for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the beans are tender and the sauce is thick and no longer watery.
  4. If the liquids reduce too much during cooking, add a little water to prevent the beans from burning.
  5. Adjust the seasoning if desired, and serve.

Recipe Notes
Note that the beans should be quite saucy at serving time. The beans will continue to absorb liquid as they sit, so allow for this if preparing the beans in advance for later serving.

Moroccan White Beans {Loubia}

 

  • 1 lb. dry white Cannellini beans (soaked overnight and drained)
  • 3 ripe tomatoes (grated)
  • 1 medium onion (grated)
  • 3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped or pressed)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste (optional))
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  1. Pressure Cooker Method for Making Loubia:
  2. Mix all ingredients in a pressure cooker.
  3. Add 2 liters (about 2 quarts) of water, and bring to a simmer.
  4. Cover, bring to pressure, then cook on pressure over medium heat for about 40 minutes, or until the beans are tender.
  5. If the beans are still submerged in sauce, reduce the liquids until the sauce is thick and not watery.
  6. Adjust the seasoning if desired, and serve.
  7. Pot Method for Making Loubia:
  8. Mix all ingredients in a large pot.
  9. Add 2 quarts of water, and bring to a simmer.
  10. Cover and simmer the beans over medium heat for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the beans are tender and the sauce is thick and no longer watery.
  11. If the liquids reduce too much during cooking, add a little water to prevent the beans from burning.
  12. Adjust the seasoning if desired, and serve.

Note that the beans should be quite saucy at serving time. The beans will continue to absorb liquid as they sit, so allow for this if preparing the beans in advance for later serving.

 

Are Beans Good for Detox?


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Easy and Delicious Moroccan Recipes


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For more like this, check out the Healthy Recipes page!

Linked up to peasandcrayons.com!

Healthy Moroccan White Beans

Austin

Friday 10th of January 2020

Vicki, this turned out amazing. I mad it in my Instant Pot. Unfortunately, it turned out too liquidy. Next time I will cut the water down by as third. Otherwise, really amazing. I couldn't believe that there wasn't any vegetable broth. Yum!

Vicki

Wednesday 29th of January 2020

I'm so glad you liked it! It's definitely one of my favorites. If there is too much liquid, you can simmer the beans so they are boiling and boil the sauce down. It should also thicken up this way.

Judee@gluten free A-Z Blog

Monday 5th of February 2018

My husband's family makes loubia ( they are from a different Middle Eastern country) but use a different kind of bean. Can't wait to try your recipe. Sound ddlicious

Ping

Wednesday 31st of January 2018

The way you explained eating this with bread by hand is the way I tell people how to eat Laotian sticky rice. Right on point! I've been looking for many dishes to cook with beans. Lately we've been getting lots of parsley. I can't wait making these Moroccan bean dishes as I love the ingredients in them and have on hand. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

Zeba Durrani

Tuesday 30th of January 2018

Looks delicious and so easy to make. Thanks for sharing.

Sheri

Monday 29th of January 2018

This looks really good! Thanks for joining the To Grandma's House We Go link party! Hope to see you next week.