Egyptian · main
Bamia (Okra Stew)
Bamia (Okra Stew) reads umami 5.9, citrus 5.3 and sourness 5.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Egyptian main, about 1 hr 15 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 6.3 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 3.4 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 6.8 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 3.2 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.1 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.3 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 5.9 · Citrus 5.3 · Sourness 5.0 · Richness 5.0 · Allium 3.9 · Earthy 3.0 · Sweetness 2.8 · Salinity 2.6 · Warm Spice 2.0 · Fruity 2.0 · Herbaceous 1.6 · Bitterness 1.4 · Funk & Ferment 1.1 · Floral 0.8 · Heat 0.8
What's in it (12)
- 1 lb small okra, trimmed
- 1 lb lamb, cubed (optional)
- 1 can (14 oz) canned tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Time & effort: about 1 hr 15 min (25 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 103.7 kcal, 7 g protein, 6.6 g fat, 4.8 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Trim okra and fry briefly in oil to preserve its shape and reduce sliminess, then set aside.
- Brown meat in the same pan with onion and garlic, add tomato paste and canned tomatoes with spices, and simmer into a thick sauce.
- Add the fried okra and cook gently for 20 minutes without stirring too much.
- Finish with lemon juice and serve over plain white rice.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Slow-Roasted Greek Leg of Lamb with Lemon Potatoes — Greek
- Mahshi (Stuffed Vegetables) — Egyptian
- Khoresht-e Bademjan (Eggplant Stew) — Persian
- Lahmacun — Turkish
- Suqaar (Somali Beef Cubes with Vegetables) — Somali
Keep reading: what umami, citrus, sourness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.