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Mullah bamia
Sudanese okra stew on a deep onion base, eaten with kisra or aseeda
Mullah is the Sudanese word for the thick stews that go with kisra and aseeda, and mullah bamia, with okra, is one of the most loved, cooked in homes from Khartoum to Kassala. The base is a large amount of onion cooked very slowly until it melts, then tomato and garlic; the okra is left to soften until the sauce turns silky. Many households add dried ground okra (weika) for a thicker, earthier stew. It is normally made with meat; here it is all vegetable. Chef's tip: cook the onions until they collapse into a jam before adding anything else; that slow base is what gives mullah its depth.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 4 tbsp sunflower oil in a heavy pot over a medium-low heat and cook 3 onions with a pinch of salt for 20 minutes, stirring often and adding a splash of water if they catch, until soft, golden and jammy.
20 minStep 2: Add 4 cloves garlic, 1 tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp ground cardamom and ½ tsp chilli flakes and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 3 tbsp tomato paste and fry for 2 minutes until it darkens, then add 2 tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
8 minStep 3: Add 1 ⅛ lb fresh okra and stir for 2 minutes to coat. Pour in 2 ½ cups vegetable stock and 1 tsp salt, bring to a simmer and cook, partly covered, for 20 minutes.
22 minStep 4: If using 1 tbsp dried okra powder (weika), whisk it into a ladle of the sauce and stir back in. Simmer 5 minutes more, stirring, until thick and glossy. Common mistake: expecting crisp okra — in mullah the okra should be soft and the sauce smooth and slightly slippery.
5 minStep 5: Stir in 1 tbsp lime juice, taste for salt, and serve with kisra, gurasa or aseeda.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mullah bamia take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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