Serves 4
60 min
Stewed Okra and Tomatoes Creole Style
Recipe GLPR6ebda8275b0075
A classic Creole dish where tender okra and canned tomatoes are slowly simmered with bacon, onions, peppers, and celery in a aromatic broth seasoned with garlic, thyme, and warming spices like cinnamon and cloves. This hearty, naturally dairy-free stew showcases the Holy Trinity of Creole cooking and delivers authentic Southern flavor in every spoonful.
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Ingredients
2 ounces bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
1 medium onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 celery rib, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (15-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
1 pound fresh or frozen okra, trimmed and cut into thick slices
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1/2 cup water
Directions
Cook the bacon strips in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and has rendered most of its fat, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pot.
Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and celery to the pot with the bacon fat. Sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften and become fragrant, approximately 8–10 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, and ground cloves, stirring well to combine.
Pour in the canned tomatoes along with their juices, using a wooden spoon to break them into smaller pieces. Add the water and fresh thyme, stirring to blend.
Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, then add the okra. Return to a gentle simmer and reduce heat to medium-low.
Simmer uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the okra is very tender and the stew has thickened slightly. The sauce should coat the vegetables.
Chop the reserved bacon into bite-sized pieces and stir back into the stew just before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot.
