Stewed Okra and Tomatoes

This Southern Stewed Okra and Tomatoes recipe is a classic Southern side dish that’s especially popular during the summer months, but it can easily be enjoyed year-round using fresh or frozen okra. Simple ingredients, comforting, and full of flavor, it’s the perfect addition to any Southern-style meal.

Easy Stewed Okra and Tomatoes Recipe

Okra is a classic Southern dish that you’ll often find dredged in cornmeal and turned into fried okra. It’s also added to gumbo, can be turned into okra cornbread and hush puppies or used as an ingredient in succotash. I love it in any way shape or form.

Okra comes packed with a natural thickener that can make it have a slightly slimy mouth feel. This is the result of something called mucilage which breaks down during the cooking process and provides a natural thickener for dishes like gumbo. I find it’s not a huge issue in this stewed okra recipe and in fact, it does the job of adding a full bodied texture to the stewed tomato sauce with no slimy texture which seems to dissipate the longer the okra is cooked.

Checkout this quick list of key ingredients you’ll need to make simple Southern-Style Stewed Okra with Tomatoes: (Scroll down with full printable recipe card.)

• Okra – Fresh okra pods sliced 1/2-inch thick. You can also use the same amount of frozen okra.
• Bacon – Adds a smoky flavor and the bacon drippings are perfection for sautéing the onion.
• Onion – Sweet onion complements the okra and adds a hint of sweetness. You could also use a sweet yellow onion.
• Fresh Garlic – Minced garlic cloves enhance the flavor of the onion and tomatoes.
• Canned Tomatoes – Crushed tomatoes with basil and plain diced tomatoes
• Green Chiles – One small can of diced green chiles for a touch of spice. You can use mild or hot.
• Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds acidic notes.
• Bay Leaves – Give the sauce an earthy flavor.
• Seasonings – Seasoned salt, black pepper, dried thyme or oregano.
• Liquid – Chicken stock or chicken broth.

How to Make the Best Stewed Okra and Tomatoes Recipe

• Prep Sliced Okra – Slice okra and set aside.
• Cook Bacon – In a large skillet cook bacon until crisp over medium-high heat. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to drain, reserve drippings in skillet.
• Dice Onion – Add onion to drippings in the skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat for 3 minutes or just until softened and beginning to brown. Add garlic, cook for 1 minute longer.
• Tomatoes and Seasonings – To the onions add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, vinegar, green chiles, bay leaves, seasoned salt, black pepper (or pepper flakes) and thyme. (or oregano.) Mix well, then bring to a gentle boil. Immediately lower the heat to medium-low and simmer and stew uncovered for 10 minutes. This will develop the flavor of the tomatoes.
• Add Okra and Stock – Add chicken stock and okra. Cover with lid slightly offset, and cook over medium-high until the okra is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Serve – Garnish Southern okra with crumbled bacon and serve.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Stewed Tomatoes and Okra

• 12-inch cast iron skillet, pan or Dutch oven.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Knife and chopping board.
• Large spoon for stirring.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Okra – Fresh or frozen okra pods can be used in this recipe. When using frozen okra, there’s no need to thaw it prior to cooking.
• Best Way to Choose Fresh Okra – When choosing fresh okra, look for bright green color with little to no blemishes. Also the stem should look fresh and the okra pods should have a bit of give when gently bent. If okra is old, it will be tough.
• Tomato Substitutions – You can use another kind of canned tomatoes in this okra recipe such as Rotel tomatoes or chili seasoned tomatoes for more spice.
• Green Chiles – You could also replace green chiles with diced jalapeno pepper.
• Oil – If you prefer not to cook with bacon fat, you can use olive oil, vegetable oil or butter.
• Vegetables – You can add other veggies like corn or celery to this recipe to make it more like succotash.
• Peppers – You could sauté bell pepper with the onion. Use red, green or yellow bell pepper.
• Protein – You can also add chorizo sausage or large shrimp to the okra mix.
• Spices – You can add Cajun or creole seasoning to this recipe and cayenne pepper for extra spice. When doing so, consider the amount of sodium in the brand of Cajun seasoning used and adjust the seasoned salt amount to accommodate. There’s paprika in the seasoned salt so there’s no need to add more.
• Green Chiles Add a Hint of Spice – I use canned diced green chiles in this stewed okra recipe. You can use mild or spicy to suit your taste. You can also omit them altogether, if desired.
• Simmer the Tomato Sauce for the Flavor to Develop – The technique used in this recipe allows the tomato sauce to develop in flavor prior to adding the okra. It works beautifully and allows the okra to maintain some of its texture without cooking down too much.
• How to Serve Okra – You can serve stewed okra over cooked rice or with cornbread or cornbread muffins or buttermilk biscuits to soak up all of that glorious tomato sauce.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store leftover old fashioned Stewed Okra with Tomatoes in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating – Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave in single servings.
• Freezer Tips – Cool stewed okra and tomatoes completely then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat before serving.

More Southern Style Dishes to Serve with Okra

Okra is a side dish that’s suitable for most any entree. A little main dish inspiration you may like to make:

• Pinto Bean Cakes turns leftovers into a round two meal.
• Serve stewed okra spooned over Cheddar Chive Spoon Bread with some fresh cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden.
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil made in the oven.
• Pulled Pork Barbecue piled onto toasted kaiser rolls.
• Delicious Southern Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
• Finger licking good Buttermilk Fried Chicken and macaroni and cheese.
• Grilled Pork Chops from the Pioneer Woman.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Skillet
• Measuring Set
• Kitchen Utensils
• Knives and Chopping Board