Smothered Okra
If you've got fresh okra, celery and ripe tomatoes, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 65 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Rinse the okra, trim the stem ends, and slice into 1/2-inch rounds, keeping in mind that cutting releases the natural mucilage that thickens the dish.
- Melt the butter in a wide heavy skillet over medium heat, then add the diced onion, celery, and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to let it scorch.
- Add the sliced okra and cook, stirring often, for 10 to 12 minutes until much of the sliminess cooks off and the edges begin to brown.
- Stir in the chopped tomatoes and the water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let everything smother gently for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the okra is very tender and the mixture has thickened into a soft stew.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne to taste, then serve hot over steamed rice.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Steamer
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
Tips & common questions
How long does Smothered Okra take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Smothered Okra vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Smothered Okra is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Chicken Fried Steak.jpg by LeeMNichols, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.