Okra in Sweet Tomato Sauce

Name: Okra in Sweet Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 5 small tomatoes (about 16 ounces (450g)); 1 tbsp oil; 2 cloves of garlic; 1 tbsp ketchup; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp granulated sugar; 1/8 tsp ground black pepper; 1 tsp cornstarch (diluted in 1 tbsp water); 12 okra pods (about 6.5 ounces (185g))

This Vietnamese-inspired dish features tender okra pods simmered in a delicious sweet and salty tomato sauce! This healthy and comforting side dish is packed with flavor and pairs perfectly with steamed white rice, quinoa, or couscous.

Okra pods in sweet tomato sauce in a bowl.

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

Hearty and flavorful. While it’s not the best-looking dish, this okra tastes fantastic! The tomato sauce is slightly sweet, a bit chunky, and garlicky while the okra is tender and subtly earthy.
Simple to make. This side dish requires only 9 basic ingredients and is super easy to put together. All you have to do is boil the okra, cook the blended tomatoes until saucy, and let the okra simmer in the sauce for a few minutes. Done!
A Vietnamese classic. Vietnamese love okra and they have numerous recipes that make use of this healthy vegetable. This recipe is inspired by a dish called “Đậu bắp sốt cà chua”. We have put our own spin on this traditional recipe and made it even more flavorful by making it extra saucy!

📘 What is Okra

Okra, also known as lady’s fingers or gumbo, is a plant generally cultivated in tropical or subtropical areas. It grows green seed pods that are edible and used in various cuisines such as Indian, Southern American, or Asian.

Ingredients like okra pods, tomatoes, sugar, and soy sauce.

🍅 Ingredient Notes

Here is what you will need to make this okra recipe:

Okra – Pick fresh and firm okra. They should be vibrant green and show no sign of mold. For perfectly cooked okra, choose pods that are similar in size. This will ensure that none of the okra is overcooked or undercooked.
Garlic – Fresh garlic works best. I advise against using dried garlic in this recipe.
Tomato – For the best flavor, use ripe tomatoes. You can save time by using a 14-oz can of diced tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes.
Ketchup – Optional. It brings extra sweetness and gives the sauce a slightly more vibrant color.
Soy sauce – For saltiness and umami.
Sugar – To balance the tomatoes’ tanginess. You can use granulated white sugar, coconut sugar, or even maple syrup.
Black pepper – For a hint of spiciness.
Cornstarch – To make a slurry and thicken the tomato sauce slightly.

🥣 How to Make It

Clean the okra. Clean the okra under cold water to remove any possible dirt. Next, trim the stem ends of the okra pods.
Boil it. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the okra and cook for 7-15 minutes. The cooking time will largely depend on the type and size of your okra. Keep an eye on it and remove it from the heat once the okra is fork-tender.
Rinse and drain. Drain the okra and rinse it under cold water. Drain again and set aside while you prepare the sauce.
Blend the tomatoes. Quarter the tomatoes and add them to a blender. Blend on medium speed for 4-6 seconds or until roughly chopped. Note: if you prefer a smooth sauce, blend for longer.

Sauté the garlic. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet or saucepan. Once hot, add the minced garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.

Cook the tomato sauce. Next, pour in the blended tomatoes. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes or until the tomatoes no longer have a raw smell and the sauce has thickened. Add the ketchup, soy sauce, sugar, and ground black pepper, and cook for one more minute.

Add the okra. Add the cooked and drained okra to the tomato sauce.
Let simmer. Let the okra simmer in the sauce for another 3-5 minutes, stirring regularly.
Thicken the sauce. Finally, dissolve the cornstarch in a tablespoon of water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Cook for another 30 seconds or until the sauce has thickened. Serve hot!

📔 Tips

Adjust the cooking time. Depending on the size and variety of your okra, you might have to adjust the boiling time. Some varieties will take much longer to cook than others.
Do not overcook the okra. This will prevent it from becoming mushy or too slimy. Stop cooking as soon as the okra is fork-tender.
Taste and adjust the seasonings. Once the tomato sauce is cooked, taste it and adjust the amount of sugar and/or soy sauce to your liking. If the sauce is too salty, add a bit more water.

🌶️ Variations

You can easily customize this side dish to your liking by adding your favorite herbs, spices, or extra vegetables. Here are a few ideas:

Make it spicy: If you want to make the sauce sweet and spicy, sauté some chopped chili with the garlic or add a pinch of chili powder.
Add herbs: Add dried herbs during cooking or garnish with fresh herbs right before serving for extra freshness.
Make it meaty: Looking to add protein to this dish? Sauté some vegan ground meat or crumbled tofu with the garlic!

🍚 What to Serve It With

We personally love to serve this okra with white rice, but you can pair it with other grains such as farro, quinoa, pasta, or couscous!

❄️ Storing

To store: This okra dish is best served the same day but it will keep for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
To reheat: You can reheat it in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes. If the sauce has thickened too much, add a splash of water to thin it out.

Okra pods and tomato sauce topped with cilantro in a bowl.

💬 FAQ

How to remove the sliminess from the okra?

Okra is naturally slimy but there are a couple of ways you can reduce its sliminess. The first one consists of soaking the pods in a mix of half water and half vinegar for about 30 minutes. The second option is to reduce the cooking time. Overcooking the okra will result in an even more slimy texture.

How do I know when the okra is cooked?

Okra should be tender when you try to pierce it with a thin knife.

Whether you are new to okra or have been cooking with this vegetable for a long time, we have no doubt you will love this okra in sweet tomato sauce! It’s healthy, hearty, and perfectly seasoned!

🥗 More Vegan Side Dishes

Eggplant Stew

Easy Glazed Carrots (Carrots Vichy)

Garlic Winged Beans

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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About the Author

Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.

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