Stewed Okra and Tomatoes

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Stewed Okra and Tomatoes are just so delicious.

This dish is truly a comfort dish like no other. Just so warm, delicious, and utterly satisfying. And comes together in about 35 minutes!  You might also like Skillet Okra with Garlic, Fried Okra, or Classic Shrimp and Okra Gumbo, or even Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo with Okra.

A white bowl holding stewed okra and tomatoes.

STEWED OKRA AND TOMATOES ARE EASY TO MAKE AT HOME

This dish really is delicious any time of the year. Summertime is great, but they are a favorite during the holiday season, too.

And..this dish is surprisingly easy to prepare!

Watch us show you how simple it is to make Stewed Okra and Tomatoes!

Fresh okra is great, but obviously isn’t always in season. Frozen okra that has been thawed works perfectly fine, too.

Okra, when prepare correctly, is so delicious.

fresh okra held by two hands

So, okra can be a little slimy, (I know, I hate that word), so give these sliced gems a quick fry in some bacon fat (or vegetable oil) and you won’t believe how good this dish turns out.

You’ll notice as you sauté these in a nice hot skillet, the ‘slime-factor’ goes away.

cut okra in a hot skillet and wooden spoon
Fried okra is a popular dish, especially in the South, but let me tell you, Stewed Okra with Tomatoes is something special.

The smell as it simmers on the stove is incredible. Stewed Okra and Tomatoes is just the best.

Mmmmmm.

Fresh okra in a skillet with tomatoes

This has without a doubt been been a favorite dish in our house for many years.

It is now a staple on our Thanksgiving table. But also a summertime favorite, too!

It is easy to prepare, and you can even make it in advance, and then re-heat just before serving.

Stewed okra with tomatoes in a bowl with a silver spoon

We just can’t say enough about this amazing Stew Okra and Tomatoes recipe.

Make this and we feel quite certain you and your loved ones will love it as much as we do!

Let’s hear it for OKRA!!

stewed okra with tomatoes

stewed okra with tomatoes

Stewed Okra and Tomatoes

Stewed Okra and Tomatoes is such a delicious dish and is literally exploding with flavor. An all-time favorite!  Great on a holiday table, too!
5 from 18 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Side dish
Keyword: okra, Southern cuisine
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 315kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp quality olive oil
  • 4 cups trimmed fresh okra cut into 1 & 1/2 inch slices
  • 1 tbsp bacon fat or vegetable oil
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeno stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 28 oz can whole tomatoes drained and roughly chopped (We love San Marzano!)
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 fresh bay leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh rosemary chopped
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 & 1/2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the okra and saute for 5 to 8 minutes until the okra starts to slightly brown and most of the 'slime' has disappeared. Set aside.
  • In a medium skillet, heat the bacon fat over medium-high heat. Add the onion, jalapeno, and garlic and saute for 3 minutes.
  • Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, salt, pepper, bay leaves, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and vinegar.
  • Cook for 10 minutes, until the tomatoes start to break down and start forming something like a paste.
  • Add the stock and simmer for 15 minutes longer over low heat.
  • Stir the okra into the tomato sauce, raise the heat to medium, and simmer for another 10 minutes.
  • Taste, and adjust seasonings, as needed. Remove bay leaves and serve at once.

Notes

This dish can easily be prepared a day in advance and re-heated 30 minutes before serving.  Add a little more stock to thin the dish, if desired. 

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal
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48 Comments

  • Soooo good! I used fire roasted dice tomatoes (read the recipe wrong) but it came out so good! Also used cayenne in place of pepper flakes as I didn’t have any. We grow okra in our garden and this was such a great way to use up our bounty! Served over peppery jasmine rice. Thanks!!

    • Hi Megan! Wow! Everything about how you prepared the stewed okra and tomatoes sounds PERFECT! Especially starting with homegrown okra!! YUM!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing! xoxo

  • 5 stars
    Just made this dish and OMG I’m highly impressed at the flavors blending so great together l. Thanks so much!

    • Hi there!!! We are so so happy you made the okra and tomatoes and loved it! We agree…so deep in flavor! Thank you so much for sharing and for the GREAT review! That means the world to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    I stumbled upon this recipe today when searching for a way to use up tomatoes, okra, and jalapeños from my garden. It was a home run! Even my 12 year old okra-hating-kid loved it. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes. Thank you!

    • Hi Marsha! That is music to our ears! We are thrilled that you and especially your okra-hating-kid loved it! Major WIN!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the amazing review. That means the world to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    I just made this recipe multiplied out 24.5 times for a side veg to go with Pan seared Halibut and roasted garlic potatoes for our dinner special at the retirement facility I work at. Plus some extra left over for whatever. It was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better taste profile.

    As others have said I’ll be keeping this one for sure as a general purpose recipe for any kind of stewed tomato dish. Thank you!

    • Wow!! That’s a lot of stewed okra and tomatoes! Sounds like an amazing meal! Thank you so so much for sharing and for the GREAT review. We appreciate that so very much! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    This was beyond delicious! Such great flavors and tasted so fresh and light. Going forward I will use the tomato sauce as base for a soup. This recipe is a “ keeper” which is a high compliment at our house!

    • Hi Laura! We are so so happy you loved the okra and tomatoes! That is truly one of our all-time favorites! Thank you so much for sharing and for the wonderful review. That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    Just finished the recipe and had it over fried grits for breakfast! Been waiting for something that good for many, many years! Didn’t have rosemary but used maters with oregano, basil and garlic. Don’t know how it could have been better. Fresh okra from our son’s garden. What a way to start the day,! Thx

    • Hi Frank! Sorry for the delayed response here. Wow! This sounds heavenly! Stewed Okra and Tomatoes over fried grits is wonderful! We are so so happy you had such great success with the dish and thank you SO MUCH for letting us and for the GREAT review. That means the world to us! Best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    I grew up on okra and tomatoes. No one could make it better than my grandma, until now. Shhh don’t tell anyone I said that. This recipe is excellent. I sometimes add corn and serve over rice with a side of hot water cornbread. Delicious! Thanks for sharing!

    • Keva! We can’t even begin to tell you how happy this makes us! (and your secret is safe with us!). And yum yum yum….the addition of corn all over rice with cornbread. Okay…now we’re starving!! Thanks so much for letting us know and for the wonderful review! That honestly means the world to us!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

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