Okra Stew

(Original recipe makes 3 servings)

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil (or vegetable oil)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2/3 lbs. (280 g) cubed lamb or beef stew meat
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp. tomato paste
Salt and black pepper
2-3 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 lbs. okra

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large cooking pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Add the meat, and cook until the meat starts to brown (about 10 minutes).

When the meat color becomes brown, add garlic, turmeric, ground cumin, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 more minutes until all the ingredients mix well with the meat.

Add enough boiling water to cover the meat, cover, and cook the meat on medium- low heat until it gets tender. Check from time to time, if you need to add more water.

Meanwhile, cut the stems off the okra, rinse and put aside.
When the meat is completely cooked, and has 1-2 cups juice left (if it has more than 1-2 cups juice, let some of the juice evaporate before adding the okra), add the okra, cover, and let the okra cook for 10-12 minutes. In the end, add ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and lemon juice. Taste, and adjust the seasoning (salt, pepper, and lemon juice). All done. Serve with rice, and your favorite salad

My Notes:

• I know there are plenty of different recipes. Many people add other ingredients to the dish such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and split peas. I decided, this time, to keep it very simple. In the future, I will add different kinds of okra stews to my collection

• When you add the okra, don’t cook it more than 10- 12 minutes. The okra cooks very fast, and it will lose its shape.

• Cook the okra as the whole. Do not cut the okra into smaller pieces. It gives you a gooey stew at the end.

• When you’re shopping for the okra, always buy small and tiny ones. Those big ones are hard and chewy.

• Many people do not know how to use this kind of vegetable. This recipe is one of the easiest recipes that gives you this choice to try this vegetable.