Barmia Recipes

OKRA STEW | MIDDLE EASTERN BAMIA RECIPE

Steps:

• Start by dicing the onion finely and add it to a stock pot along with the vegetable oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook it for 2-3 minutes until translucent
• Wash the veal pieces and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• To the pot, add the washed veal pieces and brown them from all sides for about 5 minutes
• Next add the tomato paste and and continue to cook for another few minutes
• Add the frozen okra to the pot along with the garlic which should be roughly chopped, the pomegranate molasses and 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Add about 10 cups of water in the pot, mix everything well, and bring to a rolling boil on medium heat for roughly 30 minutes
• After 30 minutes, check the tenderness of both the okra and the meat. If they are both still slightly firm, add more water (roughly 4-5 cups) and allow it to continue boiling for another 20 minutes
• Check the softness of the meat and okra, as well as the seasoning and adjust accordingly. If okra and meat are both tender, turn heat off and serve

BARMIA

Steps:

• Roughly chop the onion in quarters and fry in a little olive oil,for five minutes until it starts to brown, peel the garlic bulbs use as many as you like but a lot is needed for this dish- no need to chop leave the garlic whole add them to the onions until all is well browned and softened - 15 minutes on a low heat will do it.
• In a separate pan brown the lamb in batches and when they are nicely coloured add to onion, garlic. Leave the juices in the pan until later as will fry the okra. When all the meat has been browned add them to the onions and garlic and season.
• Then pour the stock into a jug and add the tomato puree or paste and stir in the tamarind making sure this is well mixed (the tamarind gives the stock a nice reddish brown colour). I have had this dish bright orange cooked by a native Iraqi lady, but my husband assures me he thinks the colour is wrong and tamarind wasn't used, hence the colour. Of course he prefers mine!
• Pour the stock over the onions,garlic, meat. Bring to the boil and simmer for however long you have got I usually leave the dish for minimum 45 minutes.
• 20 minutes before you want to serve, cut up the okra either in half or if very long 3 lengths. Then brown the okra in the pan with the meat juices. It takes about 5 minutes to colour--this also releases a serum in the okra which will thicken up the dish.
• Add to the main dish, also add the chopped parsley now; cover the dish and leave for remaining time on a low heat. If bubbling too much, slant the lid to let out heat. I serve with pilau rice and warm pitta bread.

BAMIA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium sized heavy saucepan over medium heat.
• Sauté onions for 2 minutes.
• Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
• Stir in all the remaining ingredients except the okra.
• Bring the mixture to a hard simmer and cook for 5 minutes-stirring often.
• Trim the okra and slice into 1/2 inch rounds and stir in.
• Simmer for 10 minutes-serve hot over rice.

EGYPTIAN BAMIA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion until translucent, about 7 minutes. Mix in lamb, salt, and black pepper; cook and stir until lamb is lightly browned, 5 to 10 more minutes.
• Stir in tomato sauce and water; season with salt and black pepper. Bring lamb mixture to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer lamb in sauce until very tender, at least 1 hour, adding more water as needed. Stir occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir okra into lamb mixture, adding more water if necessary, and bring to a boil. Spoon the bamia into a 2-quart baking dish and adjust salt and black pepper; cover dish with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until okra is tender, about 45 minutes; uncover for last 10 minutes of baking.