Bamya ( Lamb Or Beef And Okra Stew)

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter or 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 lbs stewing lamb or 2 lbs beef, cut into 1 in cube
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 cup peeled seeded and chopped tomato
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup beef stock or 1 cup water, as needed
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint (optional)
• salt
• fresh ground pepper
• 1 -1 1/2 lb okra
• 1 lemon, juice of

Recipe

• 1 okra must be cooked so that its slimy texture is eliminated.
• 2 the greeks have the best technique for achieving this.
• 3 trim the conical tops with a sharp knife, then soak the okra in red wine-viegar (khall) for 30 minutes, allowing 1/2 cup vinegar per pound.
• 4 drain, rinse and dry the okra and proceed with the recipe.
• 5 this dish is popular throughout the middle east and can be prepared with lamb or beef.
• 6 serve with rice.
• 7 preheat an oven to 325 f (165 c).
• 8 in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, warm 4 tablespoons of the butter or oil.
• 9 working in batches, add the meat and fry, turning, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• 10 using a slotted spoon transfer to a baking dish or stew pot.
• 11 add the onions to the fat remaining in the frying pan and saute over medium heat until tender and translucent, 8-10 minutes.
• 12 add the garlic, cumin, coriander, tomatoes, tomato paste, the 1 cup stock and mint (if using).
• 13 stir well.
• 14 pour over the meat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• 15 cover and bake until all the liquid is absorbed, about 1 1/2 hours.
• 16 taste and adjust the seasonings.
• 17 meanwhile, prepare the okra as directed in the note above.
• 18 in a saute pan over medium heat, warm the remaining 2 tablespoons butter or oil add the okra and saute for 3 mins, stirring gently.
• 19 remove the stew from the oven and arrange the okra on top in a spoke pattern.
• 20 sprinkle the lemon juice evenly over the surface.
• 21 re-cover the dish and return it to the oven.
• 22 bake for 35 minutes longer.
• 23 add stock or water if the mixture seems too dry.
• 24 serve the"bamia" stew piping hot.