Southern stewed okra and tomatoes, also called smothered okra or okra gumbo, is an old fashioned Southern classic combo. Okra and tomatoes go together like mashed potatoes and gravy. The perfect match for a signature Southern  dish.

Okra and tomatoes may be served as a side dish, as a topping for cooked rice, or become the main meal with the addition of sausage – smoked sausage that is.

One thing that I’ve found is people either love okra or hate okra. One of the main reasons I hear that folks don’t like okra is that it’s slimy. Yes, okra does make slime, called mucilage, but that doesn’t mean that all okra recipes create a slimy mess. The mucilage of okra has an advantage when stewing, making soups or gumbo, because it acts as a natural thickening agent.

Southern okra and tomatoes have a great flavor and texture and I can assure you – not slimy. The mister says he could eat okra and tomatoes every day, with a dash of Tobasco® of course.

“What grows together, goes together”

Here’s a tip to cut the slime on okra – choose fresh small pods. Yes, you want the little ones. The bigger the okra pods are, they get tough and woody…..and more slimy. You’ll know when you get one that’s one the woody side because slicing it will not be easy. I go ahead and discard those pods.

Southern Okra & Tomatoes

The key to this dish is to keep it simple. It is simple ingredients with just the right seasonings cooked to perfection. By the way….don’t cook it to death. I know it’s “stewed” but there’s a limit to everything before turning it to mush.

Here’s what you’ll need: fresh okra, canned tomatoes and yes fresh are fine too, a Vidalia onion, bacon, some chicken or veggie stock and a few seasonings. Some folks like to add celery and bell pepper too. I didn’t have any on hand and it’s good without it too.

How to Make Classic Okra and Tomatoes with Bacon

Step 1: Cut bacon into pieces and saute until cooked through over medium heat. Remove the bacon pieces and reserve for later.

Step 2: Next, add the diced onion to the bacon fat rendered and sauté until tender. See those brown bits from cooking the bacon stuck on the bottom of the pan? Those are flavor bits! As the onion cooks and releases moisture, scrape those bits from the pan to incorporate into the dish.

Tomatoes and Okra Southern Style

Step 3: Next, add the canned tomatoes (or fresh diced if you have them) and the sliced okra to the skillet. Stir to mix everything together. If you’re adding other diced vegetables such as bell pepper and celery, add those in now too. Add the stock and seasonings. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20-30 minutes.

Cook’s Note: I used a large stainless pan to prepare this dish. A coated dutch oven or similar would also work great. I recommend that you not use cast iron. The acidity of the tomatoes is not a good match for your cast iron cookware. 

Classic Country Cooking Okra and Tomatoes

You may also be interested in: Southern Skillet Fried Okra

Let’s make Southern Stewed Okra & Tomatoes!

Recipe shared at the Weekend Potluck

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