Ingredients: |
Ingredients: 2 lbs. Frozen okra (bamya)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, minced
1 clove of garlic
1/4 c. tomato paste
1 tomato peeled and chopped
1 tsp salt, or more to taste
1 1/2 c. water
1/4-1/2 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice (depending on preference)
(2 lbs. beef cut into cubes - optional
|
Directions: |
Directions:In a large sauté pan with lid hear 2 tbsp olive oil in a saute pan over medium. Add the minced onion and saute, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes until softened and starting to caramelize.
When the onions are cooked, add the minced garlic and rest tomato to the pan and saute for another minute until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and sauté until it thickens but doesn't brown too much. Add the okra to the pan and stir. It will feel like a lot of okra at first and the pan will be crowded, but it will quickly shrink up and soften as it cooks. Pour water in and bring to a boil.
Cover the saute pan with a lid, vented at the edge. Reduce heat to a simmer. Let the okra cook for about 20-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so, until the largest pieces of okra have softened to your liking. We like the okra quite tender and almost falling apart, but that is a matter of preference (about 25 mins.) At the end of cooking, your tomato sauce should have reduced and thickened. If there is a lot of liquid in the pan, remove the lid and turn up the heat to a high simmer till the sauce has reduced (careful, don't let it burn!). Add lemon juice and sugar as well as more salt or pepper to taste, if desired.
Serve with white rice.
Halumi Cheese:
Boil 1 onion (quartered) in water. Turn off stove and add pieces of Halumi Cheese (Polio and Serrento have similar cheeses). Add oregano. Boil until melts but don't overcook. Serve in pot with toasted pita bread halves.
A Bilboul Family Tradition! |
Personal
Notes: |
Personal
Notes: This is yummy with meat. Buy meat used for stews that has a little bit of fat for flavor.
(Note: If adding meat, sauté meet with onions in a separate pot. Add meat and sauté for five minutes. Add water to cover meat and bring to a boil. Throw out first batch of water and then cook meat for about 40 min. until tender and add to the pot with bamya).
Melissa's Fun Fact: Did you know that okra has health benefits, including a healthy dose of dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C and folate. This stuff is good AND good for you!"
Another bamya recipe at: toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2014/04/middle-eastern-okra-bamya/
|
This recipe for David's Bamya & Boiled Halumi Cheese is from