Mr Monday's Okra Stew

When I was pregnant with my daughter, all I could manage to eat at some point was Mr Monday’s okra stew. Ok, before you start wondering, Mr Monday is hubby’s work colleague and this okra stew was one of their go-to soup when the boys were hungry then. The first time I had this stew I couldn't believe my mouth. Lol. I kept asking are you sure you made this stew? Really, a man made this soup! There was nothing spectacular as it was just okra soup but the flavours and taste was spot on.

Okra Stew

I have other recipes of okra soup on the blog like this stockfish ila alasepo and Yoruba ila asepo but it wouldn't be nice of me if I held back to this okra stew recipe and enjoy it all alone in the four corners of my home. Honestly, before I got this recipe, I have never used onions in my okra before as I found it weird, although my cousin cooked a lot with it in her okra soup,  I just didn't get it but I did after I learnt to cook the stew this way.

This okra stew recipe calls for vegetable oil but feel free to use any oil of choice and PLEASEEEE don’t overcook the okra as you want it crunchy as possible. I know I say this a lot, but really I won’t share a boring recipe with you, this okra stew is bae too. It is another way of enjoying okra soup (ila alasepo) without all the fuss and the most interesting part is it can be made to your dietary needs. make this okra stew vegan or vegetarian by making few substitutes. swap the meat in this recipe with vegetables of choice especially mushroom and zucchini, you will be home and dry.  Are you ready to cook? Let’s get on with it then.

Ingredients

500g okra (chopped)

1kg beef/Assorted meat of choice, bite size

3 Ponmo diced into bite size

1 Bell pepper (tatashe/shombo), chopped

Scotch bonnet (ata rodo)

1 small Onion, chopped

Potash (Kaun) substitute with 0.5tbs baking powder. Don't use4 this if you don't want the okra slimy

Stock (substitute with vegetable stock for vegan/vegetarian option)

Seasoning (I used Knorr cubes)

Salt

Spring onions, chopped

How to make this Okra Stew

Place a pan on medium heat and add vegetable oil.

Add chopped peppers and onions to the oil and sweat for about 5 minutes, stirring in between to avoid burning.

Sprinkle 1 Knorr cube to the pepper and continue to stir for another 2-3 minutes, don’t add salt at this stage as you would be adding the stock soon.

Add meat to the sauce and stir for another 2-3 minutes

Add stock just enough to cover the meat and stir into the meat pepper mixture till well combined. Put in the Kaun (potash/akaun) and crank up the heat. Allow the sauce to boil for about 3-5 minutes, add the chopped okra and stir vigorously for about 1-2 minutes, reduce the heat and check for salt and seasoning

Lastly, add the spring onions and cook for another minute or two. Remember, do not overcook your okra. Take the stew off the heat and serve with rice or any swallow of choice. You know what? this soup is amazeballs on its own too.

See easy peasy and allow me to say very tasty too.

Learn to make your swallows sexy here, lol.

Finally, as always lovelies, if you make this Mr Monday's Okra soup, feel free to make swallow or morsel of choice.. Please leave a comment for me. Also, pin this recipe on Pinterest or tag me your beautiful yummy image on Instagram.

See you on my next post

All the best x