• ELSWEDY

Egyptian Okra (Bamia)

Egyptian Bamia is a slow-simmered okra and tomato stew made with baby okra, meat, and a homemade onion tomato sauce. Bamia can be made in a few ways, with or without meat. Make Egyptian Bamia in three main steps: cook the meat, prepare the tomato sauce, and prepare the okra stew.

Ingredients
2 lbs beef stew cut into cubes
2 large onions diced into 1/4 ”
2 tablespoons corn oil
4 bay leaves
1 lime juice
1 teaspoon 7 spices
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 chopped/squeezed fresh tomatoes by your food processor
1 bag of ELSWEDY frozen okra
1 tomato cut in half
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander (optional)
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking The Beef
-Use half of the diced onions and rub them well with sprinkled salt and pepper (little bit) and set them aside.
-Wash the beef and pat dry them.
-Sprinkle some salt and pepper on the beef. Add the onions mix to the beef and mix well.
-Add the cardamom, lime juice and the 7 spices on the beef.
-In a medium pot, heat 2 tablespoons of corn oil.
-Add the beef mix and stir until it browned.
-Add 2 cups of boiling water on the beef.
-Adjust salt and pepper (about 3/4 teaspoon but taste to make sure).
-Add the tomato that is cut in half and the bay leaves to the beef in the pot.
-Cover and lower the heat for 1 hour.

Preparing The Tomato Sauce
- In a separate pot, add the olive oil, the minced garlic and the second half of the diced onions. Stir until it becomes a bit yellowish.
- Add the tomato juice and the tomato paste.
- Stir then add 1 cup of water.
- Add the sugar, little bit of salt and pepper since we will adjust it at the end. - Set aside.

Preparing The Beef Stew with Veggies Together
- When the meat is done. Add the frozen okra.
- Add the tomato sauce mix into the pot where the beef and broth are.
- Add the cumin.
- Bring to boil.
- Cover and simmer for 45 minutes on low heat.
If it needs more sauce, add a little bit of water.
- Taste to adjust salt and pepper.
In a small pan, add 1 tablespoon of corn oil, 1 minced garlic clove and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom. Stir until yellowish then pour that mix in the pot. Also, some people like to put the Bamia in the oven for 15 minutes or so to bake.