Bamya

Egypt

Also known as Bamia, Okra Stew

About Bamya

Bamya is a hearty okra stew popular in Egypt and across the Middle East. Small, tender okra pods are simmered with beef or lamb in a tomato sauce flavored with onion and plenty of garlic until the meat is soft and the sauce thick.

Egyptian cooks often finish it with ta'leya, garlic fried in ghee with ground coriander and stirred in at the end for a fragrant kick. Whole small okra pods are preferred because they keep their shape and are less slimy than chopped ones.

Bamya is usually served with white rice or Egyptian vermicelli rice, and sometimes with bread to mop up the sauce. It is a classic home-cooked family meal, and many households also make a vegetarian version without meat.

Ingredients

• okra
• tomato
• onion
• garlic
• beef