time4cooking.com
Egyptian Bamia (Okra) with Beef or Lamb
Egyptian Bamia with Beef or Lamb is a traditional dish that highlights the delicious flavours of okra. Okra is a vegetable widely used in Middle Eastern and North African cuisine. People often refer to this hearty stew as “bamia” or “bamieh.” It combines tender okra with a rich tomato-based sauce. The dish is typically paired with lamb, beef, or sometimes chicken. Vegetarian versions of the dish are also popular, emphasizing the earthy, delicate taste of okra.
The star ingredient, okra, is a green pod-like vegetable known for its high fibber content and unique texture. As the okra simmers slowly, it absorbs the flavours of the tomatoes, spices, and meat, resulting in a thick, flavourful stew.
Ingredients and Preparation:
A Bamia recipe includes okra, tomatoes or tomato paste, garlic, onions, and spices like cumin, coriander, and paprika. Lamb or beef adds depth to the dish, balancing the tender meat with the slightly sweet and tangy tomato base.
To prepare, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil
until softened, then brown the meat. Add the spices and simmer the mixture with tomatoes to create a rich, fragrant sauce. Incorporate the okra into the stew and cook until tender. Finish with a dash of lemon juice to brighten the flavours, and garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro.
Serving and Enjoyment
Serve Bamia with rice, which soaks up the flavourful sauce, or with bread like pita to scoop up the stew. This dish is nutritious and comforting, offering a balance of protein, fibber, and essential vitamins from the okra and tomatoes.
Bamia holds a special place in Egyptian cuisine. Families have cherished it for generations as a wholesome, flavourful meal that brings people together.
Bamia (Egyptian Okra) Dish Recipe
Bamia, or Okra Stew, is a beloved traditional Egyptian dish also enjoyed in the Middle East and North Africa. Known for its rich, hearty flavour, this dish features tender okra cooked in a savoury tomato-based sauce. People typically prepare it with lamb or beef and serve it with rice or bread.
Ingredients:
500g of fresh or frozen okra
300g of diced lamb or beef (optional for vegetarians)
2 large tomatoes (or tomato paste)
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp of olive oil
1 tsp of ground coriander
1 tsp of ground cumin
1 tsp of paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp of lemon juice
2 cups of vegetable or beef broth
Preparation:
- To prepare Bamia, first, heat olive oil in a pot and sauté the onions and garlic until they become fragrant and turn translucent. Next, add the diced lamb or beef, ensuring you brown it evenly on all sides to lock in the flavors. Once the meat is nicely browned, stir in the chopped tomatoes or tomato paste, followed by the ground coriander, cumin, and paprika. At this point, let the mixture cook for a few minutes, allowing the spices to meld together and create a rich, aromatic base.
- Afterward, add the okra to the pot along with the broth. Then, bring the stew to a gentle simmer, cover the pot, and let it cook for about 30-40 minutes until both the okra and meat become tender. Meanwhile, if you find the sauce too thick, you can add more broth to adjust the consistency, or if it’s too thin, let it reduce slightly to achieve the desired thickness.
- Once the stew is ready, season it generously with salt, pepper, and a splash of lemon juice, which adds a refreshing acidity that perfectly balances the dish. Finally, serve the Bamia hot, garnishing it with fresh parsley or cilantro for a burst of color and flavor.
- Bamia is not only a comforting dish but also a highly nutritious one, packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals from the okra, as well as protein from the meat. For a complete meal, pair it with a side of fluffy rice or warm pita bread, which beautifully soaks up the rich, flavorful tomato sauce.
