Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya)

Published on January 6, 2021

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Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya) - Eyes Closed Cooking (1)

This Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew recipe is a blast from my childhood right here. Now that I’m all grown up with a family of my own, I miss my mom’s cooking more than anything. The funny thing is I never appreciated this dish growing up as we had it ALL the time! I never thought I’d be cooking it up in my own kitchen one day, but here we are. I channeled all my Egyptian heritage to try and make the most authentic okra stew around. And with A LOT of help from my mom, I’ve finally perfected this classic dish.

Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya) - Eyes Closed Cooking (2)

I made a few alterations to this okra stew in comparison to the way my mom makes it. She’s so amazing that she actually makes everything from scratch right down to the beef broth. I like to take shortcuts as you all know. So, I prefer buying ready-made beef broth. I also like adding a teaspoon of coriander and a splash of lemon for some extra, zesty flavor.

Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya) - Eyes Closed Cooking (3)

When it comes to the beef, you have a lot of options to choose from. My top two choices would be beef chuck or tri tip roast. But you can also buy packaged stew meat that’s already pre-cut for you. And although I’ve never personally tried it this way, many okra stew recipes call for the use of lamb instead of beef. Whichever type of meat you choose, cooking it in the tomato and beef broth will yield delicious, tender results.

Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya) - Eyes Closed Cooking (4)

Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya) - Eyes Closed Cooking (5)

For those who have never tried beef and okra stew before, you’ll be in for a treat. It’s a great recipe to practice some ethnic cooking because it’s not too difficult to make and the ingredients are easily found in most local grocery stores. The tomato sauce mixed with the beef broth gives the dish a rich, savory taste with a slight tang. The spices, garlic and butter add that extra kick of flavor and fragrance found in most Egyptian dishes. The beef and okra will soak all those mouthwatering flavors up as they simmer in the stew.

Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya) - Eyes Closed Cooking (6)

I can tell you right now your house will smell amazing while you’re brewing this stew up on your stovetop. It gave me some comforting, nostalgic memories that I never knew I missed so much. I’m excited to be sharing this Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew recipe with you all and I hope it brings some Egyptian culture to your dinner table. And if you do decide to make it, I’d highly suggest serving it with some white rice for a full meal. Enjoy! 😊

MORE EGYPTIAN RECIPES TO CHECK OUT NEXT!

Egyptian Kofta Meatballs
Stuffed Eggplants with Homemade Garlic Sauce
Egyptian Baklava with Homemade Syrup

Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

413

kcal

Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew – Also known as Bamya, this mouthwatering dish is full of authentic Egyptian flavors, tender beef and savory okra.

Ingredients

2 lbs beef (can be beef chuck, tri tip roast, stew meat, etc)
1 medium onion, chopped
4 Tbs butter, divided
2 cans tomato sauce (8 oz each)
4 cups beef broth
2 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbs beef or chicken bouillon
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
24 oz frozen okra
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp coriander

Directions

If your beef is not already cut up, make sure to chop it up into large, 2-inch cubes before cooking
In a large pot, add 2 Tbs butter. Melt on medium heat. Add the onions and fry until lightly browned
Add the cubed beef to the pot. Increase heat to med-high and cook until the beef is brown all around. Don’t cook it all the way through. Just enough to get a nice brown outer layer
Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, bouillon, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Mix well and bring to a boil
Once it starts boiling, add the frozen okra. Lower the heat back to medium and cook until the okra is completely tender (about 20 minutes)
In a small frying pan, add 2 Tbs butter, the minced garlic and coriander. Fry for about 2 minutes until the butter is melted and the garlic is lightly browned
Add the garlic mixture to the pot with the okra stew. Mix and cook for an additional 5 minutes
Serve over white rice if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Calories & Nutritional Info may vary based on different brands and ingredients used. Nutritional Info below was calculated usingVery Fit Well’s Nutrition Calculator.

Nutrition Facts

8 servings per container

Calories413

Amount Per Serving% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21.6g 34%
- Saturated Fat 9.7g 49%
Cholesterol 135mg 45%
Sodium 1132mg 48%

Amount Per Serving% Daily Value *
Potassium 892mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 12.1g 5%
- Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
- Sugars 4.9g
Protein 40.5g 81%

Calcium 8%
Iron 32%
Vitamin D 20%

* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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About Me

Renee McGinley

I’m one of those people who learns as they go, and I hope some of you out there can relate. Don't let the name of this website fool you! Am I really such an awesome cook that I can make anything with my eyes closed? Not exactly. ;) Check out my About Me page for more on my recipe motto and cooking style.

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Egyptian Beef & Okra Stew Recipe (Bamya) - Eyes Closed Cooking (2024)