Middle Eastern inspired Okra and Chickpea Stew with roasted lamb in a tomato based sauce flavored with cumin, coriander, and turmeric.
They say you can find almost anything on the internet and that almost always true. Continuing with the Middle Eastern theme, I searched the internet for a dish using leftover Roasted Lamb and okra I had in the refrigerator. Not surprising that I found just the dish for my two ingredients.
Bamia – Middle Eastern Okra Stew
The dish I found on the internet was Bamia or Okra Stew which originated in Egypt. This stew is usually cooked with okra, lamb or beef, in a tomato based sauce flavored with cumin and coriander. Just what I needed to rehash the little bit of leftover roasted lamb I had in the refrigerator.
In my rendition of this dish, I added chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and a bit of ground turmeric for the flavor and a richer color. This Okra and Chickpea Stew has a slightly tangy taste from the tomatoes and a smoky flavor from the roasted meat.
What is Okra?
Okra is a flowering plant in the mallow family native to East Africa. Here in the United States, it is commonly associated with Southern, Creole, and Cajun cooking because it was first introduced into the southern region. Outside of the US, it is often known as lady’s fingers due to its long, slender, tube like shape. The light green seed pods are eaten as a vegetable and it commonly cooked in soup and stews. It can turn slimy when cooked and this makes it a natural thickener. Keeping the pods whole and cooking it quickly can help to minimize this.
Okra is a healthy and delicious vegetable. We enjoy them very much. I stir fry, steam, or put them in curries. Here are a few okra dishes on this blog.
1. Spicy Okra Salad
2. Fish Curry with Okra and Eggplant
3. Asam Pedas (Spicy Tamarind Fish)
4. Easy Jambalaya
Similar Tools Used in Making This Okra and Chickpea Stew
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.
Cuisinart 4.5 Qt. Dutch Oven w/Cover
Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 4-1/2-Quart Round French (Dutch) Oven, Cherry Red
Pyrex Prepware 1-Cup Measuring Cup
Okra and Chickpea Stew
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion (peeled and chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
- 4 oz roasted lamb (cubed) (115g)
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp ground coriander
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1½ cups water (360ml)
- 1 can chickpeas / garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained (15 oz/425g)
- 12 oz okra (trimmed) (340g)
- 2 tomatoes (cubed)
Instructions
- In a heated pan, add olive oil. Sauté onion and garlic until soft, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add roasted lamb, ground cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, water, chickpeas, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Add okra and tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove and serve immediately with basmati rice or couscous.
Nutrition
Serving Suggestion
We ate this delicious Okra and Chickpea Stew with basmati rice, hummus, pickled olives and peppers. It was so good! You can also eat it with couscous, naan, or your choice of flat bread.
lequan@luvtoeat says
What a great idea to put chickpea in the stew. My husband doesn't like okra, but loves lamb. Maybe this is the perfect recipe to get him to give okra another shot. Thank you for sharing Biren.
Yummy Team says
wow!! It looks super-delicious..
tigerfish says
I like chickpeas. I like okra but never thought of making stew with them together 🙂
MaryMoh says
That's a very lovely stew…..would be so good with rice. I love okra very much. I've just had it yesterday for dinner. I added it to laksa fish.
Dimah says
Yum, It looks absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Tina says
Delicious stew…Yummmmm.
Biren says
lequan@luvtoeat – Yes, do give it a shot. It is always nice to try new things 🙂
@Yummy Team – Thanks!
@tigerfish – First time I'm putting it together too and we love it. I hope you will give it a try.
@MaryMoh – Thanks Mary. We love okra too and eat it quite often. I have another post coming up 🙂
@Dimah – Thanks for visiting and for the nice comments.
@Tina – Thanks Tina!
motherrimmy says
This looks healthy and delicious. I have a bag of okra in the freezer that I didn't know what to do with. I don't have lamb, but I wonder if pork or chicken would work equally as well?
denise @ quickies on the dinner table says
I have had bamia before – cooked for me by an Arab mother and it was really good! I've never thought of chickepeas as an addition but it makes perfect sense if you think about it! Great tip about cooking okra whole – it really does help.
Your version look so yummy…I'd love a bowl with some flat bread!
penny aka jeroxie says
Love okra. Just made the northern thai dish with okra.
Mary says
Healthy has just met delicious! I love the way this recipe sounds. I'm shy okra at the moment but that is easily remedied and we'll try this really soon. I hope you are having a wonderful day…Mary
Cherine says
I love this stew, my mom used to make it. I should be trying it soon!
Kamalika says
Lovely looking delicious dish….a grt combination too….
Juliana says
Nice vegetarian dish…okra and chickpeas…love the spices in it 🙂
Biren says
@motherrimmy – I think chicken will work. It can also be vegetarian 🙂
denise@quickies on the dinner table – This dish is new to me but the family really liked it and so I will cook it again. The okra and chickpeas combined very well.
@penny aka jeroxie – I like okra too and I cook it often.
@Mary – I like the way you put it, "Healthy just met delicious" 🙂 The family really enjoyed the dish.
@Cherine – I am only now discovering a little of the Middle Eastern food and I really enjoy it 🙂
@Kamalika – Thanks!
@Juliana – Thanks for visiting and for your nice comment 🙂
Veronica Lee says
Yummy!!! Glad I found your blog!!
Hi! Stopping by from MBC. Love your blog.
5 Star Foodie says
What a yummy veggie stew! I love the flavors here!
Liv Wan says
Looks really yummy!!
I love Okra but don't really know how to use it.
Thank you for sharing.
bunkycooks says
I have finally converted my husband to tolerating okra! Maybe I can give this recipe a try.
Scott K says
Yum! I've been playing with chickpeas a lot myself lately.
Biren says
@Veronica Lee – Thanks for visiting and for your kind comments 🙂
@5 Star Foodie – Thanks!
@Liv Wan – Thanks for visiting!
@bunkycooks – I hope you'll give it a try. Once you get pass the texture, it is actually quite delicious.
@Scott K – I've always enjoyed chickpeas. They are good in spicy dishes. Also great as a snack 🙂