# Sudanese Mullah: Okra Stew with Lamb

> Sudanese mullah is lamb cooked with onion, tomato and spices, then okra — fresh, or dried and ground as waika — which gives it its characteristic viscous body. It's served with aseeda or kisra, and unlike Egyptian cooking that viscosity is the point.

**Sudanese Cuisine · 75 min · 5 servings · 310 kcal per serving**

Mullah is the Sudanese word for the sauce eaten with aseeda. The slipperiness of okra that Egyptian cooks work to avoid is exactly what's wanted here, because it's what lets you lift a mouthful with your hand.

## Ingredients

- 500 g — lamb, cut into pieces
- 300 g — okra, sliced (or 4 tbsp ground waika)
- 2 medium — onions, chopped
- 4 medium — tomatoes, grated
- 2 tbsp — tomato paste
- 4 cloves — garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp — cumin + coriander + black pepper
- 1 tbsp — peanut flour
- 3 tbsp — oil

## Method

1. **Brown the lamb** — Soften the onion in the oil, add the lamb, garlic and spices, and stir until the meat takes colour.
2. **Tomato** — Add the tomato paste, then the grated tomatoes and salt, and water to cover the meat. Simmer gently until the lamb is tender.
3. **The okra** — Add the sliced okra (or the ground waika slaked in water), stir, and cook for fifteen minutes over low heat. The viscosity is wanted here, so stir freely.
4. **Serving** — For a richer body, stir in a spoon of peanut flour at the end. Serve hot with aseeda, kisra or rice.

## Tips

- Waika — dried, finely ground okra — gives a stronger body and a deeper flavour than fresh.
- Peanut flour is an authentic Sudanese addition that brings both richness and flavour.
- Unlike Egyptian okra, the sliminess here is the point — don't try to prevent it.

## FAQ

### How is it different from Egyptian okra stew?
Mullah is deliberately viscous and served with aseeda so a mouthful can be lifted by hand; Egyptian okra stew avoids that texture and is served with rice.

### What is waika?
Dried okra ground fine. It dissolves into the sauce and gives a stronger body — available in Sudanese grocers.

### Can I make it with chicken?
Yes, and it takes about half an hour.

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Source: https://hanakoleah.com/en/sudanese-cuisine/sudanese-mullah-okra-stew-recipe
Edited by: Marwa Mohamed
Last updated: 2026-09-15