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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Loubia with bread

Loubia is a Moroccan dish of white beans simmered in a cumin and paprika tomato sauce, served with bread. It takes 45 minutes for 4 people, it's very easy, and it costs about €1.30 per serving. The secret is toasting the spices in hot oil before the tomatoes go in.

Creamy white beans simmered in a cumin spiced tomato sauce, a Moroccan dish that cooks itself while you catch your breath.

Loubia with bread
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.30
Calories per person
490 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Loubia is the kind of dish that warms you up without any fuss. White beans turn soft and creamy in a tomato sauce seasoned with cumin and paprika, with a hit of raw garlic and fresh cilantro that brightens everything at the end. The texture gets almost velvety once you mash a few beans into the sauce.

It's a perfect weeknight dish when you don't want to babysit a pot. Everything simmers on its own for twenty minutes, just enough time to set the table or help with homework. Kids love dipping bread into it, and since it's made from pantry staples, Mon Chou often suggests it on nights when the fridge is nearly empty.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Canned white beansoften in the pantry 3 can
  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Cilantro 1 bunch

Bakery

  • Baguette 1

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Chop the onions and garlic, finely chop the cilantro, and rinse the white beans well.

    Rinsing canned beans washes off the gluey liquid and gives you a cleaner sauce.

  2. Cook the onions in the oil, add the garlic, cumin, and paprika, and stir for a minute. 6 min

    Keep the heat medium, paprika burns fast and turns bitter.

  3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, a glass of water, salt, and pepper, and let it reduce. 10 min

    A pinch of sugar tames the acidity if the tomatoes are too sharp.

  4. Pour in the beans, stir, and let simmer gently until the sauce coats them well. 20 min

    Mash a few beans against the side of the pot, it thickens the sauce naturally.

  5. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve hot with bread.

    A drizzle of raw olive oil on the plate brings out all the flavors in the sauce.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick good quality crushed tomatoes, they make all the difference in such a simple sauce.
  • Keep the heat really low once the beans are in, a hard boil dries them out instead of letting them melt into the sauce.
  • Taste before serving and adjust the salt, canned beans can already be salty depending on the brand.

The variations

  • Swap the white beans for chickpeas for a firmer, equally Moroccan version.
  • Add grilled merguez sausage on the side for a heartier, non vegetarian version.
  • For rushed kids, roughly blend the loubia into a thick soup and serve with bread fingers for dipping.

What to serve it with

  • Fresh bread for dipping
  • Marinated olives as a starter
  • Mint tea

Storage

Loubia keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes very well for up to 2 months, bean sauces hold up great in the freezer. Reheat gently over low heat, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Questions about this dish

Can I use dried beans instead of canned ones?

Yes, but soak them overnight and cook them for about 1.5 hours before adding them to the sauce. Canned beans stay more practical for a quick weeknight meal.

Do I really need to rinse the canned beans?

Yes, the canning liquid is gluey and changes the taste of the sauce. Rinsing under cold water gives you a cleaner, less salty result.

Can loubia be made ahead of time?

Yes, it's even better reheated the next day since the flavors have time to blend. Make it the day before and warm it gently before serving.

What bread works best with loubia?

A classic baguette works fine, but a Moroccan khobz bread is even better for scooping up the sauce. The key is a dense enough crumb to soak up all the sauce.

How long does it take to make a loubia with bread?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a loubia with bread?

About 490 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a loubia with bread cost?

About €1.30 per serving, or €5.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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