If you're new to cooking with okra, gumbo is a great recipe to start with! Packed with late summer/early fall produce, this flavorful stew will turn you into an okra lover! Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr30 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr45 minutesmins
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bell pepper, celery, garlic, Okra, onion, thyme, tomatoes
Season: Fall, Summer
Diet: Dairy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6
Calories: 134kcal
Author: Molly Luzbetak
Equipment
Kitchen Knife
Large Pot
Ingredients
3tbspolive oil
3tbspvegetable oil
¼cupflour
1onion*medium yellow, chopped
1tspsalt
3clovesgarlic*minced
2ribscelery*sliced thin
1½cupsbell pepper*red, diced
2½cupstomatoes*chopped
black pepperto taste
2bay leaves
2tsppaprika
8sprigsthyme*plus more for garnish
2½cupsvegetable broth
2cupsokra*sliced
1cankidney beansdrained
1canchickpeasdrained
1tbsplemon juice
Instructions
Add the oil to a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, sprinkle in the flour. Use a wooden spatula to stir consistently for 3-4 minutes, until toasted brown in color.
Add onions and salt, cooking for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add the celery, peppers, and tomatoes and cook for about 10 minutes. Season with black pepper, bay leaves, smoked paprika, and thyme, mixing well.
Add in the broth, stirring constantly. Add the okra and beans, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook for 40-50 minutes until the stew is thick and the okra tender. Add lemon juice and remove the bay leaves and thyme stems. Serve with rice or bread and garnish with a sprig of thyme.