Moulah Koudou
Okra and Meat Stew
A hearty and flavorful Chadian stew featuring tender pieces of meat simmered with okra, tomatoes, and aromatic spices. Okra's natural thickening properties give this stew a rich, velvety texture. It's often served with a staple grain like millet or rice.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Beef or Lamb(cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 4 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 500 g Okra(fresh or frozen, sliced)
- 6 cups Water or Beef Broth
- 0.5 cup Peanut butter(unsweetened)
- 1 tsp Curry powder
- 1 tsp Ginger(grated)
- 0.5 tsp Cardamom(ground)
- 0.5 tsp Chili powder(or to taste)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
- Cooked millet or rice(for serving)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the cubed meat and brown on all sides. Remove the meat and set aside.
- 2
Add the chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Stir in the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to break down.
- 4
Return the browned meat to the pot. Add the okra, water or broth, curry powder, grated ginger, ground cardamom, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- 5
Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 1 hour, or until the meat is tender. Stir occasionally, adding more liquid if the stew becomes too thick.
- 6
In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter with about 1/2 cup of the hot stew liquid until smooth. Pour this mixture back into the pot and stir well to incorporate.
- 7
Continue to simmer for another 15-20 minutes, uncovered, allowing the stew to thicken slightly. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
- 8
Serve hot over cooked millet or rice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Okra can become slimy if overcooked. Add it in the last 30-40 minutes of cooking.
- ✓For a richer flavor, use beef broth instead of water.
- ✓Adjust chili powder to your preferred level of spice.
- ✓If you don't have fresh ginger, use 1/2 tsp ground ginger.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add other vegetables like diced sweet potatoes or carrots along with the okra.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and use vegetable broth. Add more vegetables like eggplant or pumpkin.
- A pinch of cayenne pepper can be added for extra heat.