Cretan Cuisine (Κρητική κουζίνα) - Okra and Potatoes in Tomato Sauce (Μπάμιες και πατάτες σε σάλτσα ντομάτας)

A vegetable dish served on the Cretan table, a mix of fresh okra and chunky potatoes with a rich tomato sauce, this recipe was given to us from Ειρήνη and Γεώργιος. This dish can be served on its own with bread, or as a side dish with meat.

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Ingredients:

• 500 g fresh young okra
• 500 g potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 large onion, finely chopped 
• 1 small cup olive oil 
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
• 500 g ripe tomatoes, blanched and peeled 
• juice of 1 lemon 
• 2 tsp sugar 
• large handful coriander 
• large handful flat-leaf parsley 
• sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper to season

Preparation:

1. Remove the stems and clean the okra
2. Juice 1 lemon and let Okra soak in them for about 30 minutes.
3. Add the oil to a pan and fry the onion until softened then add the garlic. 
4. Add the okra and potatoes and cook for five minutes then chop the tomatoes and add to the okra and onion mixture, along with the seasonings, sugar and lemon juice. 
5. Cook, uncovered, for 25 minutes until the okra are tender then add the chopped herbs.
6. Season with salt and pepper and cook for a further minute before serving.Okra and Potatoes in Tomato Sauce.

Enjoy your meal (Καλή όρεξη)