A Recipe for Bamia: Meat and Okra Stew

Name: Bamia (Meat and Okra Stew)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 135 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 pound stew meat (lamb or beef); 1 pound frozen okra; 16 ounce tomatoes (canned crushed); 4 ounce tomato puree (canned); 1 medium onion (chopped); 2 cloves garlic (crushed); 1/2 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon coriander; 1/8 teaspoon allspice; 8 cups water; Salt (to taste); Pepper (to taste); 2 tablespoons olive oil

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 2 hrs

Total: 2 hrs 15 mins

Servings: 2 to 4 servings

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Bamia is such a hearty stew despite the number of ingredients. I love serving this on a cold day with a bed of rice and a salad. You can make this recipe vegetarian by omitting the beef without the flavor being compromised.

I love making bamia, but the time to prepare the fresh okra can be really consuming. Plus, it is not also readily available at the market. Using frozen okra in bamia really cuts back on the time but does not compromise the flavor.

What Is Okra?

Okra—also known as okro—has been called "ladies' fingers." It grows from a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods.

Native to North-East Africa, Okra has been dubbed one of the most nutritious vegetables in Africa. The plant is often cultivated across tropical and warm regions around the world. Bamia grows best in dry, rich soil.

Health Benefits of Okra

It is low in calories. They contain only 30 calories per 100 grams.
Okra is rich in dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
It's often recommended by nutritionists to help control cholesterol.
The pods offer a healthy dose of vitamin A and flavonoid antioxidants.
Fresh pods are a good source of folates.
They are rich in B-complex vitamins, such as niacin, vitamin B-6 , thiamin, and pantothenic acid.
Okra contains large amounts of vitamin K, which is good for blood clotting enzymes and bone strengthening.

1 pound stew meat, lamb or beef
1 pound frozen okra
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes, crushed
4 ounces canned tomato puree
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1/8 teaspoon allspice
8 cups water
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil

Gather the ingredients.
In a large saucepan, brown meat with olive oil. Add onions and garlic.
Add crushed tomatoes, stirring well with meat, garlic, and onion. Add cumin, coriander, salt and pepper, and allspice. Add water and tomato puree. Stir and combine well.
Add okra and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, or until meat is tender and done.
The sauce should thicken as it cooks. If it does not, add 1/2 cup all-purpose flour.
Serve bamia with white rice and a salad. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
343	Calories
15g	Fat
14g	Carbs
41g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	343
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g	19%
Saturated Fat 4g	21%
Cholesterol 112mg	37%
Sodium 375mg	16%
Total Carbohydrate 14g	5%
Dietary Fiber 6g	21%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 41g
Vitamin C 37mg	185%
Calcium 172mg	13%
Iron 5mg	29%
Potassium 895mg	19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.