Okra Stew for the Patient Cook

I have never been good with patience.  Ask my family, they'll tell you.  Ask my husband, HE. WILL. TELL. YOU.  

I hate waiting on things to happen. I like quick results-FAST.

I avoid long lines.

If I buy a new outfit, I will wear it the very same day--even if it's too hot/cold to wear.

If it's your birthday next week and I already have a gift for you, chances are I will give the gift to you today.  (Ask Cristobal)

Sorry, but if you're talking I sometimes have a bad habit of finishing your sentence (or assuming I know what you're going to say).

I even read the last page of a book sometimes just to see if I'm going to like the ending--during the middle of the book. (don't do it much now)

So you see, I'm not very patient.  I'm getting better at it. Thanks to having a baby! (I must have skimmed through the baby books on the part about being patient when having a baby-didn't get the memo)

Rumi has slowed me down a bit--ok, a lot--so much so that my family has noticed it.  

It's not longer about ME and my time.  

Rumi has helped me to appreciate life as it happens.

I go with the flow--sometimes a little too much.

I meditate.

I breathe.

I learn by watching him take in life.

So when I came across FRESH okra at the grocery store yesterday, I knew I had to make one of my favorite Persian stews my mom would make for us...I vividly remember watching the pot simmer in my mom's kitchen, just waiting for her to give me the 'go' to taste test before adding more salt or lemon juice...

Standing at the produce section with Rumi in the cart, I was picking out the okra while letting Rumi play with one in his hand.  I loved his curiosity for this new thing in his hand. 

He smelled it. Looked at me for acceptance.

He chewed on it while making funny faces.

He even licked it, only to throw it back at me, as if I had given him something bad.

So I told him I will make him Okra stew, but that he would have to be patient.

In reality, I was telling myself I need to be patient.

As with any Persian stew, PATIENCE is the key ingredient--even my mom told me to be patient when I called her this morning for the recipe!

It's very simple, the hard part is waiting for it to "settle" before you eat it.

Ingredients:

1-2 pounds stew meat (beef or chicken-boneless,skinless), cubed

2 medium onions diced

1 pound fresh okra or frozen-remove the stems if using fresh

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 roma tomatoes

3 Persian dried limes, (substitute juice of 2 limes or lemons...or to taste)

1 can tomato paste

1 teaspoon turmeric

S/P/oil

Persian dried limes are a key ingredient to most if not all of Persian stews.  It adds a punch of tanginess.  Treat it like you would a bay leaf--remove before serving.  If you eat it you will pucker your lips until tomorrow-although, I like it :)

Heat a dutch oven, or heavy duty pot with some canola oil on medium high heat.  Sautee onions. Add the chicken and saute with salt, pepper and turmeric. About 10 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of water, cover.

Meanwhile, in a skillet saute the okra in batches just until lightly browned. (make sure the okra is fully dry at this point) Turning once or twice. (skip this part if using frozen okra)

Add the sauteed okra to the pot with the simmering chicken. Gently stir.

Next add the bell peppers, tomatoes, and dried limes.  Add the tomato paste and dilute with about 2 cups water. Gently stir. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 hours. 

Be sure to remove the skin from the tomato 20 minutes into cooking and then use your wooden spoon to mash the tomatoes into the sauce.

After 3 hours, it should look like this. "Settled" as my mom would say.  All the flavors have combined. The okra has taken in all the flavors from the meat, limes, and tomatoes.

Serve this stew like all Persian stews along side a plate of steaming, saffron-basmati rice.

This is gluten-free and can be vegan if you omit meat.  Just use vegetable stock instead of water to give it body and extra flavor.

Hey, if I was patient enough to make this for lunch. You can make this!! Another great recipe for your Crock-Pot too--you know it's collecting dust in your closet, so give it a try :)