Skip to main content
Epicurious

Bamia

Okra is one of the most popular vegetables in the Arab world.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound small young okra
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2–1 tablespoon sugar
Salt and pepper
Juice of 1 small lemon, or to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cut off the stem ends and wash the okra. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet. Add the okra and sauté gently for about 5 minutes, turning each pod over.

    Step 2

    Add sugar, salt and pepper, the lemon juice, and just enough water to cover the okra.

    Step 3

    Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the okra is tender and the liquid is reduced. Raise the heat if neccesary to reduce the liquid at the end.

    Step 4

    Serve cold.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
TagsMiddle EasternOkraVegetableSideDinnerDairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreeVegetarianVeganEasyQuick5 Ingredients or Fewer30 Minutes or LessSauteCookbooks
Read More
Mango Sticky Rice
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Easy Egg Custard
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
Simple Hot Cocoa for One
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Béchamel Sauce
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Chicken Meatballs With Sesame Green Beans
Baking meatballs and green beans on two sides of the same sheet pan streamlines the cooking process for this saucy, savory dinner.
Dulce de Leche
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
Sun Gold Tomato Pasta With Pistachio Gremolata
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.