Went to nearby supermarket to buy green leave vegetables as the packets rockets, baby spinach and coleslaw that I always buy them are been infected. Disappointed no green leaves. Went to another supermarket and found okra and tomatoes on sale. Had not have okra for a while. Bought it to go along with my garlic onion chili sauce. Addition to it I am adding chili powder and cayenne powder as the weather are chilling. Needed spicy sauce to keep warm.

Google: “Okra is a fruit, though it is eaten as a vegetable. The light green seed pods are cooked whole or sliced, so preparation is extremely easy, and it can be cooked in so many ways. However, choosing the right cooking method, such as frying, grilling, sautéeing, and pan-roasting, can reduce or prevent it from becoming slimy. Okra is a good source of essential nutrients, including folate, vitamins C and K, magnesium, and fiber. Okra’s antioxidants, like vitamin C, can help boost the immune system and protect against infections. Okra is low in calories and high in fiber, making it a good option for weight management. Okra’s antioxidants and fiber can contribute to heart health by reducing inflammation and improving cholesterol levels. Okra contains vitamin A, which is important for skin health and can help prevent acne and reduce the appearance of blemishes.”

Google: “Tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum), flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), cultivated extensively for its edible fruits. Labelled as a vegetable for nutritional purposes, tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C and the phytochemical lycopene. The fruits are commonly eaten raw in salads, served as a cooked vegetable, used as an ingredient of various prepared dishes, and pickled. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet, full of antioxidants, and may help fight several diseases. They are especially high in lycopene, a plant compound linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention, and protection against sunburns. Tomatoes can be a valuable part of a healthy diet.”

Knowing me got to have chili in my diet. I decided to finished off my bought garlic onion chili sauce. My dish is red and green with dark spicy sauce, comforting, delicious and healthy. Let’s cook!!!

Ingredients

15-20 okra or lady’s fingers
1-2 plum tomatoes
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tsp chili powder
1-2 Tsp cayenne powder
1/2-3/4 c vegetables stock or water
oil
salt
pepper
garlic onion chili sauce

Method

Trim off and discard the stem ends from the okra and cut diagonally into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices. Set the prepared okra aside. Cut the tomatoes into bite-size pieces, set aside.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chili powder, and cayenne, if using, and cook, stirring as the spices sizzle, another 30 seconds.

Add the okra and stir to coat the pieces with the garlic spice mixture. Add the tomatoes, any juices they’ve released, salt, 3 Tbs garlic onion chili sauce and 1/2 c vegetables stock; I needed more sauce so I added another 1/4 c. Stir to combine everything and then cover. Reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook until the okra is tender and the flavours are well blended, 5 to 10 minutes.

Stir in lemon juice and check seasoning; if needed a bit more salt and pepper. Removed from hob. Serve the okra hot with rice and a meat dish. Enjoy with a glass of red wine!!!

Note: You can add more okra if you wanted to. You can omit cayenne powder and chili powder. You can add cumin powder or onion: sliced thinly. You can add 2-3 lemongrass stalks, the green parts only: pound slightly to bruise it. They are expensive I didn’t get them.

https://helenscchin.com/2025/04/05/okra-tomato-in-spicy-sauce/

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