Okra and Tomatoes (A.k.a. Okra Gumbo)

Angie D.'s Note:

I havent seen too many Okra recipes on Zaar, so i decided to post my favorite. My Grandmother taught me how to make this dish when I was 11, and I've been making it ever since. Its a great along side smothered steak and mashed potatoes, or rice.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 8 slices bacon
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 (16 ounce) bags frozen cut okra (or 2lb. fresh okra, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces)
• 2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Fry bacon in a large skillet that can be covered, until crisp. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels. Saute onion in bacon drippings until tender. Add okra and tomatoes, stir to blend. Cover, reduce to low heat. Cook for about an hour, or until okra is tender, stirring occasionally. Do not stir too much or too briskly, because the okra will fall apart. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
2. **Note: Nanny diced the bacon and fried it and the onion together. My family doesn't like the bacon cooked into it because the bacon becomes soft. If you do it my way, you can sprinkle the bacon on right before serving.

Reviews

[Chef #771965]

I haven't tried it yet but I give it five stars because my mother in law makes this and it's amazing. I bought frozen okra to try and make it like hers and while I was looking through here I found your recipe. It is just like she makes it and I am going to make some today.

[Ozlem]

The recipe gave me an idea that okra could be cooked without lemon juice, that's the way we cook it in Turkey. I cooked 1 lb. okra with 1/2 cup whole oats in the pressure cooker with 1 1/2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt for 5 minutes and added the dressing (olive oil, apple cider vinegar and red pepper paste) and red onions after okra has cooled down.

[Chef #267323]

I added corn to this, but otherwise made it according to this recipe.  It had a really nice flavor. I think that next time I may add pinto or cranberry beans, along with the corn. Very nice. Thank you for the recipe.