Egypt's comfort food, bamya: Short okra in tomato sauce

 

Today's recipe is a return to a classic favourite of mine: Bamya, arabic for okra. It's my comfort food, especially during autumn and winter days when it's gross outside, and I can't remember life beyond space heaters and the thick greyness that is a 'sunny' day. 

Maybe if the water pressure in the apartment didn't go from trickle to none, my saving grace of a hot shower would be ok. But that's not going to work, so bamya it is. 

Another slimy vegetable

It's another slimy variety of vegetable, like molokhia, which means it is good for stewing. It's one of those meals that I found myself defending a lot while in elementary school. My mom would always make this for us, and of course, I would have leftovers for lunch along with my warm yogurt, mashed-up peach and browned banana. 

I can still remember the smell of garlic mixing with the warm and bruised fruits mmmmmmmmmm. What was even better was after I opened up the container and began to eat my lunch. Noses would perk up and people would see me eating this slimy looking vegetable. "What is that?", "Okra" I answered. "Oh and WHAT is okra?" 

And so the lessons in vegetables outside of tomatoes and carrots began for my friends who were 90% of British-Irish origin. It's ok though, we traded lessons. They taught me about the world of Mr.Noodle eaten dry. Amazing. 

Comfort food

 Much further south to where I grew up, i.e. the southern states of the US, okra is cooked readily in gumbo stews, or deep fried. So it's not completely unknown in North America. But for Egyptians all over the world, it's a comfort food and a staple in most Egyptian households. And it's one of those vegetables that originates from Egypt. 

Wild bamya used to grow along the Nile shores back in the days, as far back as the time of the Pharaohs, (12th BC). Egyptians are thought to be the first people to cultivate it, starting around the 12th century BC. 

Apparently, based on deciphering hieroglyphics from tombs, pyramids and other buildings, people have been able to put together some of the meals from that time, such as bamya. But, of course, over time, things have changed, and though we still eat the same vegetable, it's generally eaten in a tomato-based broth. 

Tomatoes have no claim to Egypt since they were introduced to the area back in the 1800s, so the dish that most Egyptians are familiar with today is not similar to that of the ancient people. But that's ok. 

Super food

As a vegetable, it is rich in folic acid, vitamin B6 and fibre. And because it's slimy, nutritionists believe that it is actually a better source of fibre for you than bran/wheat etc. since it doesn't irritate your intestines thanks to its texture. Things you didn't know! 

When preparing this meal, make sure you keep away from fake rice, meaning the pre-boiled variety, and ideally stick to the short-grain super starchy Egyptian (or Italian) rice. This dish also depends on its stock for flavouring. Traditionally, people use cubed beef or lamb, I like chicken, but regardless of which meat you use, you can follow my recipe for stock. You can also make this dish entirely void of any meat stock, making it a naturally tasty vegan meal (without realising it's vegan).

RECIPE

Total Preparation Time (not including stock): 45-60 minutes Yield: 4 persons 

INGREDIENTS:

Rice 

2 cups of Egyptian or Italian short grain rice 

2 cups of water 

1 teaspoon of butter 

salt 

Sauce 

2 cups of stock 1 bag (about 375 grams-1.5 cups) of frozen Egyptian okra (looks shorter than other varieties) or 1.5 cups/375 grams of any kind of okra (fresh or frozen) 

1 can of tomato paste 

1 diced onion 6 cloves of peeled garlic 

1 tablespoon of butter (or oil)

DIRECTIONS:

Rice 

1. As with previous recipes, wash rice until water runs more or less clear, to get rid of the starch. 

2. To a pot, add water, salt and butter. 

3. When water is boiling, add rice and turn down heat to minimum. 

4. Cover, and leave to cook for about 15-20 minutes. 

Sauce

5. In a medium-sized pot, add some butter or oil.

6. Add onions and cook until soft. 

7. Add two cups of stock. 

8. Add all of the tomato paste and stir until mixed. 

9. Add all the garlic cloves. 

10. Adjust sauce with salt and keep on low heat. 

11. When the sauce is tasting good to you, add the okra. 

12. If you are using beef or lamb, add the meat to the sauce. 

13. If you used chicken (as I did), then you don't need to cook it in the sauce. You can fry it in a little butter and serve it on the side.  

14. Leave the okra (and meat) to cook for about 40 minutes. 

15. When  the okra is soft, and flavourful, serve over a bed of rice. 

16. Serve with raw green onions on the side. 

 It's a very simple dish, and not too complicated taste-wise either. It's heavy on the garlic which is good for you, bad for others, and if you eat it with the green onions, you'll be guaranteed no one at the elementary lunch table will sit with you for a few years until you outgrow your momma-makes-your-lunch phase.