Mediterranean Bamya (Okra and Tomato)

These past few weeks at the market I have been seeing multiple farmers bringing an abundance of okra. Before I made this dish, I had never cooked with okra, let alone even ate a dish with okra in it. I was very intimidated by this ingredient, but I am always up for trying something new in the kitchen; therefore, I finally bought a bag at the market on Saturday. After doing some research on different flavor combinations and techniques of cooking, I decided to make an okra and tomato stew (bamya), Mediterranean style. I served the bamya over a bed of jasmine rice and a side of pita to make a full meal and I was pleasantly surprised on how much I liked it. The dish includes spices such as coriander, allspice, and paprika as well as fresh ingredients like onion, garlic, and jalapeños and has the perfect Mediterranean flare for a nice summer dinner. 

fresh ingredients from local farmers

Blue Sky Farms: okra and sweet onion

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Crooked Sky Farms: tomatoes

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Al Hamka Farms: garlic

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Duncan Family Farms: el jefe jalapeños

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ingredients

• 1/2 pound fresh or frozen okra, sliced into rounds
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (I used jalapeño infused from Hatun)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 sweet onion, diced
• 2 jalapeños
• salt and pepper
• teaspoon of allspice, coriander, and paprika
• 3/4 cup crushed tomatoes
  • can be store bought or homemade, I explain how I made mine in the recipe
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1 tomato, sliced into rounds
• juice of 1/2 lime (add more in preferred after tasting)
• (optional) parsley for garnishing

the process

1. heat the olive oil in a medium/large skillet over medium heat
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2. add the garlic, onions, and jalapeños
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3. cook for 4-5 minutes and stir regularly
4. add the okra and saute for 6-7 minutes over medium/high heat
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5. season with salt, pepper, allspice, coriander, and paprika
6. add the crushed tomatoes and water and stir to combine
   1. to make homemade crushed tomatoes:
      1. boil water in a medium saucepan and score tomatoes with an x on the bottom
      2. add the tomatoes to the boiling water for one minute
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      3. remove from the boiling water and transfer to a bowl of cold water for a few minutes
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      4. peel the skin off the tomatoes and add to a food processor or blender
      5. blend until the tomatoes are finely crushed
7. add the slices of tomatoes on top of the mixture
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8. bring the mixture to a boil and reduce heat and cover most of the way
9. let simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, until the mixture has thickened and the okra has softened
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10. uncover and add the lime juice, taste and add more if needed
11. serve over rice or with warm pita bread!

enjoy 🙂

 

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