Middle Eastern Style Okra Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN OKRA AND TOMATO STEW

Steps:

• Trim the stems off the okra, and place in a large bowl. Salt generously, douse with the vinegar and let sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Drain the okra, and rinse thoroughly.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, lidded skillet or casserole. Add the onions. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the okra, and cook, stirring, for about three minutes until the edges begin to color. Add the garlic, stir together for about half a minute until fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down a bit and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in the dissolved tomato paste, allspice and sugar. Add water if necessary to just cover the okra. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 45 minutes until the okra is very tender. Add the parsley and lemon juice, and simmer another five minutes. Taste and adjust salt. Remove from the heat, and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

BAMIEH (MIDDLE EASTERN OKRA STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, salt and black pepper; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned a light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the lamb, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, and garlic paste. Cook on medium heat until the lamb starts to brown, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste; cook and stir for another 5 minutes.
• Dissolve the beef bouillon cubes in 4 cups of boiling water. Pour the broth into the pot with the lamb and stir in the okra. If necessary, add water to cover the okra. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover and cook for another 45 minutes to 1 hour until the lamb is very tender and the stew reaches your desired thickness.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB AND OKRA STEW (BAMIA STEW)

Steps:

• Trim the baby okras and wash in cold water and then place in a colander to drain.
• In a large saucepan, heat the oil or butter and add in the meat and brown on all side.
• Add the crushed garlic and chopped onions to the meat and saute till brown.
• Add in the chopped tomatoes, stirring in till the tomatoes are all broken down and soft, for about 10-15 minutes.
• Add in all the spices and salt and give it a good mix.
• Add enough water to cover the meat (about 7-8 cups) and stir to combine well.
• Add in the trimmed okras and bring to boil.
• Cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, until the meat is tender (the sauce will thicken as it cooks).
• Lastly, pour in the lemon juice and add in the chopped coriander and carefully stir once or twice (careful not to mash the okras) and gently simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and serve with rice.

SPICY OKRA STIR FRY(MIDDLE EASTERN STYLE)

Steps:

• Fry frozen okra in hot oil until golden brown(this will ensure okra stays closed and not slimy.
• Set okra aside.
• In a skillet combine tomato, onion, garlic, and jalapeno pepper and fry in about 1/8 cup oil until it becomes saucy.
• Then add water and tomato sauce to skillet and stir.
• Add okra and seasonings and let cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat.
• Set aside for about 10 minutes and stir fry will thicken slightly.
• Enjoy!

MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE OKRA

Steps:

• Over medium low heat, gently saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until onions are transparent and just starting to color. Add tomatoes and crushed coriander seeds, and cook 5 minutes, until tomatoes have given off their liquid. Add salt if desired.
• Trim the stems from the okra, and add to tomato-onion mixture. Mix well and add water. Start with 1/2 cup; more can be added as necessary.
• Turn heat down to low. Cover okra, and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the okra is tender. Stir occasionally, and add more water if the vegetables start to stick.
• Just before serving, add the lemon juice, mixing well.