Okra stew (vegan)
February 23, 2011 • Category: Main Dish
In Texas, okra is practically a state vegetable, offered fried at every BBQ joint and road stand. Well, okra aka bamieh is also beloved in the Eastern mediterranean shores, especially in Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.
Now that Easter is fast approaching and people will be fasting, this dish will appear with regularity. Okra, stir-fried in olive oil and cooked till meltingly tender in a stew of onions, tomatoes and garlic is served at room temperature with a side of pita bread.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 Bag of frozen okra (14 ounces) or the fresh okras
- 1 red onion, chopped or a small bag of pearl onions (6 ounces)
- Tomato sauce (14 ounces) or fresh tomatoes, peeled and cut in dice
- 1 teaspoon of allspice or seven-spice mix
- 1 Tablespoon of mashed garlic (mash with a teaspoon of salt till pasty)
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/3 cup of olive oil
METHOD:
- Chop the onion and heat a deep skillet (with cover). Pour 1/4 cup of olive oil and fry the onion till golden. Meanwhile, peel and mash the garlic with a teaspoon of salt till the mixture is pasty.
- Add the okra (still frozen) to the onions and stir-fry for 5 minutes or so. Add the garlic paste to the okra, then the tomatoes (or tomato sauce) and lemon juice and allspice. Cover the skillet and let the mixture simmer for 45 minutes, making sure it does not burn at the bottom. Uncover the last five minutes of cooking to let more liquid evaporate and turn off the heat. Serve at room temperature with some pita bread.
NOTE: To save time I use the frozen okra that is available at the Middle-Eastern store imported from Egypt; it is already prepped and requires no additional chopping.
If you are using fresh okra, cut off the tip of the pod, dry with paper towels and stir-fry in olive oil; then proceed with the recipe.
Traditionally, okra is served with fresh coriander incorporated in the stew; I omitted here because I use a thick tomato sauce; I probably would have added the coriander (cilantro) had I used fresh tomatoes.
Okra prepared this way was not slimy at all! On another note, check out the review on Nested Naturals Super Greens of a 100% natural green drink made from fruits and veggies and learn about its good benefit!
Comments
51 Comments • Comments Feed
Alice says:
SO delicious!
On February 23, 2011 at 6:08 pm
tigerfish says:
I love love love okra and love love love them cooked this way – in a stew, with tomatoes.
So yummy!
On February 23, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Rosa says:
A fabulous stew! I really have to try cooking with those once…
Cheers,
Rosa
On February 23, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Cristina says:
I’ve never eaten okra…never seen it in a shop either, but this stew is something I’d certainly love! I’ll see if I can find it in an Asian food store.
On February 23, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Kristi says:
My husband’s family brings us dried okra in small quantities from overseas. These dried okra are tiny, 3 cm long or less. Have you ever seen this type of okra available in the US or online?
On February 23, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Joumana says:
Kristi: I have seen it off and on at the Middle-Eastern store where I shop.
Samir: I fried the frozen okra to try and keep the sliminess at a minimum and it seems to work. I did not use coriander because I used a heavy tomato sauce and to me it was too powerful of a taste without the added coriander; if I had used fresh tomatoes, I might have though.
On February 23, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Lentil Breakdown says:
Wow, my mother (and me too!) made a similar dish, only without the exotic spices. It had celery, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and a little brown sugar sauteed with the fresh okra. It was one of her better dishes! (not saying much though ; ) I was planning on making it during the summer and never did. People don’t know what they’re missing when they proclaim they hate that slimy okra!
On February 23, 2011 at 8:01 pm
lisaiscooking says:
I do like okra, and not just because I’m from Texas! 😉 Okra and tomatoes are a great match. The stew looks delicious.
On February 23, 2011 at 8:25 pm
sophia says:
I love okra roasted, or in fish curries that I used to eat in Singapore…god I miss that dish. I used to be creeped out by the sliminess of it, but now I think it’s just part of the charm…unique texture!
On February 23, 2011 at 8:37 pm
arthur says:
Love your okra stew! Wonderful idea to mash garlic with salt. I do it too with garlic and ginger to make a paste. Somehow it makes the dish tastier. Sounds delicious to eat it with pita bread. Just love to use with my hands with this kind of dish! Cheers!
On February 23, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Mary says:
I approach okra with caution, but because I trust you I’ll give your stew a try. Your photo is great. I hope you have a good evening. Blessings…Mary
On February 23, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Sara says:
Joumana, I have to make this stew! I saw these tiny okras in my middle eastern grocers in the frozen section! Delicious recipe!
On February 23, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Claudia says:
I love okra (not fried!). And usually avoid cooking it because it can be a lot of trouble and now you reminded me one can buy it frozen… so I can go back to my okra cooking ways. Love that it’s the center of a stew.
On February 23, 2011 at 10:19 pm
gloria says:
A wonderful stew dear, look delicious!! I love it! gloria
On February 23, 2011 at 10:25 pm
samir says:
are these frozen ones from Egypt pre fried to remove the sliminess? suprised you didnt use coriander powder or cilantro as tradionally we dont use allspice with this just coriander powder and/or fresh coriander..
On February 23, 2011 at 11:47 pm
domi says:
Bonjour Joumana, un légume très, très peu usité ici même en surgelé, les seuls que l’ on trouvent facilement sont en boites…et ce n’est pas bon du tout. Une recette bien appétissante au demeurant et qu’ il me faudra essayé, bisous et passe une belle journée
On February 24, 2011 at 12:13 am
Ivy says:
This is exactly how we make mpamies, except for the spices and 99% of the time I make them vegan. I always prefer the frozen ones, even during the summer.
On February 24, 2011 at 12:32 am
SYLVIA says:
Okra stew is delicious and it’s rich in fiber. I like one pot meals it’s big on flavor and light on clean up.
On February 24, 2011 at 3:00 am
Meeta says:
I simply adore okra and i remember this so well. all i ever wanted with this was some fresh lebanese bread and a tub of labneh!
On February 24, 2011 at 3:36 am
Cherine says:
I love okra stew, when I make it, I add lots of garlic and coriander.
Yummy!!
On February 24, 2011 at 4:04 am
Priya says:
Watever with okra is my fav, stew makes me drool..
On February 24, 2011 at 5:16 am
Nadji says:
Je pense que les gombos sont réputés dans tout le bassin méditerranéen : ils sont très connus aussi au Maghreb et en Algérie, font partie des plats de fête ou de circonstance, préparés aussi avec agneau et sauce tomates.
A très bientôt.
On February 24, 2011 at 5:44 am
nammi says:
yumm that looks delicious, i love okra but my husband cant stand them, 🙁
On February 24, 2011 at 5:54 am
Peter says:
Love okra and yes, they are filling as a vegetarian dish. I love my family’s dish which also contains allspice in it!
On February 24, 2011 at 8:15 am
Suman Singh says:
I love okra and that look delicious..great recipe..thanx for sharing!
On February 24, 2011 at 8:34 am
Doc says:
Flat out amazing. I LOVE the lamb dish and the yogurt sauce; brilliant way to get a thick creamy sauce without the heaviness of the cream! And a tip of the hat, only you could make okra look appetizing!
Thanks again!
Doc
On February 24, 2011 at 8:35 am
Citron says:
Ah, ça j’aime beaucoup! Si je peux mettre la main sur des okras, toutefois….
Au fait, tu l’as essayé le pesto à l’artichaut?
On February 24, 2011 at 9:10 am
Joumana says:
@Citron: non, mais c’est sur ma liste! Je te le ferais savoir!
On February 24, 2011 at 9:54 am
Karen says:
Wonderful recipe, Joumana! The combination of okra and tomatoes is divine. Yum.
On February 24, 2011 at 9:30 am
Donna says:
Magnificent and fun for the whole family! Your simple and inviting blog is to be adored. Thank you for introducing us to this delicious cuisine.
On February 24, 2011 at 9:39 am
Chiara says:
If I can find the okra (frozen or fresh) I’d love to make this recipe!
On February 24, 2011 at 9:42 am
vegetarianirvana says:
We have a similar okra dish in India, no garlic, a lot less tomato with the addition of tamarind and jaggery and the famous Indian tempered oil.
Sndhya.
On February 24, 2011 at 11:41 am
honeybeecooksjackfru says:
Yum! I loooooove okra, and cant wait till the fresh ones come to the market. I will definitely be making this then!
On February 24, 2011 at 12:56 pm
weirdcombos says:
Hi Joumana,
what a beautiful recipe. I adore okra!
I have 4 okra plantings growing at home, they are about an inch tall by now. I got the seeds from seeds savers exchange. They are supposed to have a burgundy color I am super curious about them because I’ve never seen them in this color. Can’t wait for the weather to warm up so they can be transplanted to my community garden plot. I am saving this recipe for the Summer when I believe I will have my very own okras ready to be eaten.
Cheers,
Heg
On February 24, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Krista says:
I remember moving to the south (Texas/Oklahoma) and having okra for the first time. I thought it was slimy and nasty! 🙂 But I soon came to love it. It looks so good in this stew. 🙂
On February 24, 2011 at 1:54 pm
zeina says:
Such a great recipe! I used to do it without onions, just with garlic, but your recipe is better. I also used coriander as well as cilantro, and it was great. This is the “bamieh bzeit”. I also love the non-vegetarian version, made with beef served hot with rice.
On February 24, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Tim says:
This looks amazing! I love okra.
E.A.T.
On February 24, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Katie@Cozydelicious says:
I have long wondered what to do with okra – besides fry it! Well, now I know. This looks wonderful. Okra is not very popular up here in Boston, but I saw some at the outdoor market last weekend, maybe there will be some this weekend too!
On February 24, 2011 at 9:29 pm
A Canadian Foodie says:
In Vanja’s country, they sell it dried tied to strings. I have never been successful cooking it fresh or dried. It is slimy. I have to be shown by someone. Then I will know how.
I have a friend who loves it, but doesn’t know how to cook it and would love to treat him sometime.
🙂
valerie
On February 25, 2011 at 12:52 am
Diane says:
I love Okra but seldom cook it, not sure why! Will give this recipe a try. Thanks. Diane
On February 25, 2011 at 3:29 am
shamira says:
This is the most delicious okra recipe I’ve ever tried! Made it last night, it was yummyyyy! I love Lebanese food and your blog has got me craving only and only Lebanese food, be it in my kitchen or outside it! 🙂 Great work!
On May 24, 2012 at 12:33 am
Joanne Aoun Sablich says:
I loooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvve bemyeh b zeit! My favorite dish after mloukhieh
My mom’s was the best ever and I miss it sooooooooo much coz as you did, she used to cook it so well and add lemon so her okra was never ever slimy! I’m definitely cookin it this week
Thank you for your amazing work
On May 3, 2013 at 9:18 pm
Marla says:
This was the most flavorful tomato sauce I’ve ever had (at least at home, for sure–this was restaurant quality taste). It had a cheesy taste to me (but I eat vegan and use lemon to add tangy flavor to “cheeze” sauces). I used tomato paste diluted with maybe equal parts or more water and a splash of red wine vinegar. I also added maybe a quarter tsp coriander as you mentioned and it was excellent, definitely made this taste like authentic food from another country, i.e. not the American flavors I’m used to. The only thing is I’ve read that vegans shouldn’t eat a lot of nightshades, so I probably won’t make this again until next okra season–and I’m not an okra fan. Greens are probably the veggie I feel most comfortable with.
On September 1, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Marla says:
I probably used about 1/8 tsp or less coriander–don’t want someone to try it and it taste overpowering.Appreciate explaining the process you went through!
On September 1, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Joumana says:
@Maria: there are no set rules with leb cuisine, so you are fine! ;0
On September 2, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Danae says:
I just made this as a vegan dinner with warm pita bread and a side of grilled eggplant & roasted carrots.
It was excellent!! Great recipe 🙂
On September 1, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Joumana says:
@Danae, so glad to hear you were inspired!
On September 2, 2013 at 3:28 pm
lebanese cuisine says:
wow! this is great, although i am not much of a vegetarian, i think this taste good.
On April 22, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Rekha says:
I tried this recipe as it was one of the top hits from my search. I dont know what went wrong but mine turned out more Bhindi Masala (Indian okra curry) than Beiruti Bamieh :(. Having since read some comments above and further searches post cooking, I noticed that most recipes do not add allspice or 7spice to this but mainly garlic and coriander.
On November 13, 2019 at 8:00 pm
Joumana Accad says:
@Rekha garlic and coriander is a fundamental flavor in the Lebanese kitchen; it is usually added at the end, to give the dish a boost of flavor.
On November 17, 2019 at 4:31 pm