Everyday I’m learning something new, enhancing the quality of this blog is growing in my heart and keeps my mind busy. You know, when you find the thing you are searching for all your life, and finally find it. That is my feeling right now. Excited, what to give, and learn more. I was reading two days ago some lighting techniques, which can improve my pictures and give it small push. But I didn’t expect to improve to this level very fast. I’m really impressed and the results are awesome. Many thanks for “My cooking Hut” for the useful and wonderful tips on food photography she posted in her blog.
Also another many thanks for smittenkitchen for inspiring, and giving me that kick I needed in the first time. These to blogs are normal food blogs. People who need an idea for new recipe, searching for specific one or searching to cooking hints and tips will enter them. But in the same time these type of blogs can change a life of somebody, enrich his/her life and make this world better place to live in. Before the idea of creating this blog I was completely lost .. I needed something interests me, make me feel good and useful for other people. I search for a long time without a clew .. I knew that I like writing, photography, and cooking but the idea of combining the three tighter .. it just wasn’t conceivable for me ..
I wanted to write from my heart but about what? I didn’t know .. I wanted to professional photographer .. but what to picture? I didn’t know .. I wanted to cook and cook and cook .. but for whom? I didn’t know .. BUT now I know what to write, what to picture and for whom to cook .. You may not believe it but this blog changed my life. And today I’m using my energy to the limits, even more than the limits .. The fact that I’m discovering myself again and again ..
So what is Maraq Bamia means ? .. First of all this is very famous recipe in the Arab world .. the pronunciation “Maraq Bamia”, Maraq refers to sauce, and Bamia for Okra. Usually this sauce comes with white rice, or bread(as a main course usually for lunch) depends on your preference. As a main course it is easy to implement, with no complications. It is very healthy and a good choice for vegetarian people. The ingredients are available in any house usually; the only thing that you may need to buy is the Okra. I buy it frozen; keep it in the refrigerator till the time of cooking.
Serves 4 with added white rice or bread, Adopted from my friend Hana
For the ingredients you will need
1 pound frozen baby okra
5 medium tomatoes (diced)
5 tablespoons oil/butter
7 tablespoons Tomato Paste
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 medium clove garlic (chopped)
Salt and pepper for taste
Start cooking
Juice the diced tomatoes using a blender. Add the 2 tablespoons of oil into skillet, set heat medium. When the oil become hot, add the chopped onion and the chopped clove garlic with some salt and pepper. In the meantime using medium saucepan, fry the whole amount of the tomato paste with the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil for 10 minutes. Stir the tomato paste to ensure that it will not be burned or stick. When the onion and garlic color turn to light brown, add the okra (after a good wishing with filtered water) to it. For the tomato paste, when the 10 minutes are gone, add the tomato juice to it and stir till you get homogeneous mixture. Then add two to three cups of water to the sauce (the sauce texture shouldn’t be to thick nor to light .. it should be in between). When the okra wilt and the sauce start to simmer (you should see contnious bubbles for 1 minute ), then add the okra,onion and gralic to the sauce, lower the heat to minimum and cover. let cook for 30 minutes.
Your sauce is done and ready to be served ..
enjoy with love,
Maryam
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