Stewed Okra and Tomatoes is a healthy and delicious southern side. Fresh summer okra, sliced and cooked with canned tomatoes (you could use fresh instead), bacon, onion, celery, and a few seasonings makes a delicious vegetable side dish for almost any meal.
I look forward to eating okra each and every summer. Fried Okra is my absolute favorite way to eat it, but stewed okra with tomatoes is a great way to enjoy okra in a healthier form.
Okra and Tomatoes is a side dish that’s like a thick stew.
This dish starts by cooking some bacon. This is mainly to produce some bacon grease to saute the onions in.
Because onions are always better cooked in bacon. 🙂
I like to use a sweet Vidalia onion, but any kind of onion will do.
I mainly use fresh okra for this, but you could also use frozen okra. If you buy fresh okra at the store or farmers market, plan on using it as soon as possible. The pods will start to develop brown spots. It’s okay to eat them with brown spots, but they are a signal that the okra is getting past its prime.
I like to eat Okra and Tomatoes as a summer side, but you can also spoon it over a bed of rice for a light meal. If you want to keep it vegetarian, or as healthy as possible, skip the bacon and cook the onion in olive oil.
If you have fresh summer corn available, add the kernels from an ear or two. It tastes really good with the okra and tomatoes.
You’ll want to keep a bottle of Tabasco sauce handy. This is a side dish that really does well with a lot of heat and you may want to add a splash hear and there.
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Okra and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 medium onion,, chopped
- 1/3 cup chopped celery
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup water or chicken broth
- 4 cups sliced okra
- 3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a cast iron Dutch oven. Remove bacon and set aside.
- Add onion and celery to the bacon grease and cook until soft, about 7-8 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, water, okra, and seasonings. Cook 20-25 minutes, maintaining a simmer and stirring occasionally.
- Crumble bacon and stir in just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Okra Recipes
I grew up eating okra and tomatoes with cooked ground beef in it with celery and diced onions cooked in it and I am 70 yrs old and still think it’s awesome💕
Minus the meat, could this be canned after cooking. I’m running out of freezer space.
I make mine very low cal with fresh tomatoes, fresh okra, and onions. Spices and one packet of sweet n low to cut the bitterness of the tomatoes. Bring it to a boil, turn to low and let it cook down. Very healthy!
I grew up eating this. We grew okra in the garden. When okra was not available, mother used can green beans. I can’t eat okra anymore, so green beans will have to do.
Absolutely delicious! I use home canned tomatoes out of my garden and it tastes exactly like what my grandma used to cook on Sundays as a kid.
I shall convert to a vegan version. Thanks
Used fresh tomatoes and okra. Served over rice. Ready good.
I cook this year round
Great side dish! I had to make it without bacon for a specific diet but subbed jarred bouillon and a little water to sautéed the onions and celery in… delicious.. ( husband loves it with the bacon 🥓)
I have use this recipe time and time again this recipe is awesome the only thing I do different is I add Smoked sausage To it as it’s cooking
Add a cup of fresh ground sweet Basel and two cups of of cheese/garlic croutons. The dried French onions is good too 😋
I tried this recipe it was so simple so easy and tasted so delightful I ate it over cornbread and it was just awesome.
Thank you so very much