**Bamia:** A Culinary Journey Through Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Delights
Bamia, also known as okra, is a versatile vegetable celebrated in various cuisines across the Mediterranean and Middle East. With its unique texture and slightly earthy flavor, bamia takes center stage in a diverse array of dishes, each boasting its own distinct charm. From the tangy and aromatic bamia bi zeit, a Lebanese okra stew infused with lemon and herbs, to the rich and flavorful bamia bil bamya, an Egyptian okra and tomato stew, the culinary possibilities are endless. Explore the vibrant tapestry of bamia recipes, each offering a tantalizing journey through the vibrant flavors and culinary traditions of the region. Discover the secrets to preparing fresh bamia, mastering the art of stewing, frying, and roasting this versatile vegetable, and unlock the potential for creating delectable dishes that will delight your taste buds and transport you to the heart of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern culinary landscape.
BEEF AND OKRA BAMIA
A simple but amazing Middle Eastern dish containing okra with tomato sauce and wonderful spices. For a vegetarian dish, you can choose to omit the steak completely. Serve with white rice.
Provided by najla
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon salt over steak cubes; cook and stir meat in the hot oil with onion and garlic until meat is seared, about 5 minutes; reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until meat is browned, about 3 more minutes. Remove steak pieces and set aside.
- Stir tomato sauce and tomato paste into same pot; mix in okra, water, coriander, white pepper, and cumin. Bring to a boil; season with additional salt. Reduce heat to low and simmer until okra is tender, 30 to 45 minutes; return pieces of beef to the bamia. Simmer until flavors are blended, about 10 minutes; garnish with slices of jalapeno pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 366.3 calories, Carbohydrate 12.4 g, Cholesterol 32.6 mg, Fat 29.1 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 5.1 g, Sodium 1707.3 mg, Sugar 6.1 g
EGYPTIAN MEAT AND OKRA STEW
Feel free to play with the protein in this -- I use venison but lamb, goat, beef, or even chicken or fish would work. Just adjust cooking times accordingly.
Provided by Hank Shaw
Categories lunch Main Course
Time 2h50m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large, lidded pot like a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Salt the meat well and brown it in batches. Pat it dry with paper towels and don't let the pieces touch. You might need to raise the heat to full blast to prevent the meat from steaming. You want it to be well browned on at least 2 sides. Move pieces to a bowl as they brown. This will take you about 15 minutes.
- When the meat has browned, add the onions to the pot. Add a little extra olive oil if you want. Stir the onions around with a wooden spoon to scrape up all the browned bits in the pot. Let them sauté until soft and a little brown. Add the green chiles and the garlic and cook another 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Return the meat and any juices to the pot, add the coriander, cardamom, tomato paste and some salt and mix well. Let this cook a minute, then add the tomatoes and stock. Add the dried lemons if you happen to be using them. Bring to a gentle simmer and taste for salt. Cover the pot and cook for 2 hours. If you are using lamb or beef, you'll only need to cook this for about 90 minutes, or even less.
- When the meat is tender, add the okra and lemon juice. Simmer about 15 more minutes, then add black pepper to taste. Serve with rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 318 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 40 g, Fat 11 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 129 mg, Sodium 501 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 5 g, UnsaturatedFat 8 g, ServingSize 1 serving
MIA BAMIA ARABIC LAMB AND OKRA STEW
Make and share this Mia Bamia Arabic Lamb and Okra Stew recipe from Food.com.
Provided by David04
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Wash okra and trim okra, and pat dry.
- Sprinkle with oil and place in broiler and lightly brown the okra.
- Sauté the onions, garlic, lamb meat, and spices in olive oil, stirring regularly, until meat is browned.
- Add water and salt, then stir, bring to boil.
- Cover, lower heat and slow cook until meat is tender.
- Add browned okra, chopped tomatoes and ½ cup fresh cilantro.
- Mix well, cover and cook until okra is tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 257.7, Fat 15.5, SaturatedFat 4.5, Cholesterol 45, Sodium 260.8, Carbohydrate 16.6, Fiber 5.4, Sugar 5.9, Protein 15.3
HOW TO PREPARE FRESH OKRA (BAMIA) BEFORE COOKING
This is a way to prepare fresh okra before adding it to any recipe so that it doesn't become slimy while cooking. Original recipe from The Complete Middle East Cookbook by Tess Mallos.
Provided by UmmBinat
Categories Gumbo
Time 35m
Yield 1 lb, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Wash well handling gently.
- Trim stem end without cutting into pod.
- Trim around top of stem attached to pod, removing a thin layer.
- Remove fuzz under running water by rubbing pod gently with a nylon scourer. If okra is young there is no need to do this.
- Spread out and leave until dry.
- Place in a bowl and pour on vinigar tossing gently so that vinegar coats okra.
- Leave for 30 minutes.
- Drain and rinse well.
- Dry and use as directed in recipes.
- TO FREEZE.
- Method 1.
- Prepare as above and dry.
- In a deep pan heat oil and fry okra for 5 miutes, tossing gently with a wooden spoon.
- Cool and put into freezer bags, expel air, seal and label. Pack into freezer.
- Method 2.
- Prepare as above.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Have a bowl of ice water ready.
- Place prepared okra into a frying basket and lower into boiling water.
- Boil for 3 miutes, timed from when the water returns to a boil.
- Lift out and place in ice water for 3 minutes.
- Drain well, put into freezer bags, expel air, seal and label. Pack into freezer.
Tips:
- Choose fresh, tender okra pods that are deep green in color and free of blemishes.
- Wash the okra pods thoroughly under running water.
- Trim the stem ends of the okra pods.
- For whole okra, leave them whole or cut them into 1- to 2-inch pieces. For sliced or chopped okra, cut them into thin slices or small pieces.
- If desired, remove the okra seeds by making a shallow slit lengthwise down the center of each pod and scraping out the seeds with a spoon.
- Okra can be cooked in a variety of ways, including boiling, frying, roasting, and stewing.
- Okra is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fiber.
Conclusion:
Okra is a delicious and versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in many different dishes. By following these tips, you can prepare fresh okra quickly and easily. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to cook okra, give one of these recipes a try!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love