Turkish Okra Stew - Bamya
My Turkish Okra Stew with Chicken is a Bamya recipe made with okra, chicken, tomatoes, onion, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It is cooked gently until the chicken is tender and the tomato sauce thickens.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 566kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon good quality olive oil (1tbsp+1tbsp)
- 6-8 chicken legs
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 14 oz grated tomatoes (400 grams)
- 1 red chilli (chopped)
- 1 lbs okra (450 grams)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup chicken stock, vegetable stock or water
Instructions
- Place a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sear the chicken pieces until lightly browned on all sides. Remove them from the pot and set aside.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the same pot. Add the chopped onion and cook for a few minutes, until soft and translucent.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato paste and stir well. Cook for about 1 minute.
- Add the grated tomatoes and chopped chile. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot to lift any browned bits.
- Return the chicken pieces to the pot. Add the okra, lemon juice, salt, and stock. Stir gently and bring the stew to a boil.
- Lower the heat, cover the pot, and simmer gently for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the chicken and okra are tender.
- Remove from the heat and let the stew sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot so the stew cooks evenly.
- Small okra pods are best for Bamya because they are more tender.
- If using fresh okra, trim the stems carefully without cutting into the pods.
- Do not stir the stew too much after adding the okra.
- Tomatoes and lemon juice help reduce the slimy texture of okra.
- Chicken legs, wings, drumsticks, or thighs work better than chicken breast.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop with a small splash of water or stock if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 566kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 180mg | Sodium: 1058mg | Potassium: 1159mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2172IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 3mg