# Egyptian Okra Stew with Beef, Without the Slime

> Okra stew works when the okra is browned in oil or the oven before it goes into the sauce — that's what stops it turning slimy. Cook the beef first until tender, then add the sauce and okra and leave it for twenty minutes over low heat without stirring much.

**Egyptian Cuisine · 90 min · 5 servings · 330 kcal per serving**

Most people who dislike okra dislike it for one reason: the slime. It has a single simple fix — don't stir it much, and brown it before the sauce goes in.

## Ingredients

- 500 g — small okra (fresh or frozen)
- 600 g — beef, cubed
- 1 medium — onion, chopped
- 4 medium — tomatoes, grated
- 2 tbsp — tomato paste
- 6 cloves — garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp — ground dried coriander
- 3 tbsp — ghee
- 1 tsp — salt, pepper and mixed spice

## Method

1. **Cook the beef** — Brown the beef with the onion, add hot water to cover along with the spices, and simmer over low heat until tender.
2. **Brown the okra** — Fry the okra in two tablespoons of ghee, or bake it at 200°C, until lightly coloured — this is the step that prevents the slime.
3. **The sauce** — In the same pot, fry the crushed garlic with the dried coriander, add the tomato paste and then the grated tomatoes, and let it reduce for five minutes.
4. **Bring it together** — Add the okra, the beef and its stock to the sauce, check the salt, cover, and cook over low heat for twenty minutes without stirring much.

## Tips

- Don't cut into the okra crowns — that opens the pockets that release the slime.
- Don't thaw frozen okra before browning it.
- A teaspoon of vinegar at the end cuts any slime that's left.

## FAQ

### How do I avoid slime completely?
Brown the okra before it meets the sauce, stir as little as possible, and add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice at the end.

### Can I make it without meat?
Yes — okra in tomato sauce is a complete vegetarian dish on its own. Add more garlic and serve it with rice.

### Fresh or frozen okra?
Small fresh okra has the better texture, but frozen gives excellent results if you brown it straight from the freezer.

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Source: https://hanakoleah.com/en/egyptian-cuisine/egyptian-okra-stew-with-beef-recipe
Edited by: Marwa Mohamed
Last updated: 2026-10-30