HOW TO COOK OKRA AND TOMATOES WITH MEAT RECIPES

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, simmer ham hock in water until tender, about 1-1/2 hours. Cool; remove meat from the bone and return to pan. (Discard bone and broth or save for another use.) Add the tomatoes, beans, peas, corn, green pepper, onion, ketchup and seasonings. Simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Add okra; simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf before serving. Garnish with dill and chives if desired.

Steps:

• Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high. Add beef and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate. 
• Add onions, garlic, and herbs to pot. Cook, stirring often, until onions and garlic begin to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you add them. Fill tomato can halfway with water, and add to pot, stirring to combine and scraping any browned bits from bottom of pot. 
• Return meat to pot, nestling it in onion mixture and spooning some tomatoes on top; return to a simmer. Cover and cook until meat is very tender when pierced with a fork, 1 1/2 to 2 hours (check occasionally to ensure it’s simmering steadily). Uncover pot, increase heat to medium-high, and simmer vigorously until sauce is thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. 
• Remove meat from pot and slice or shred. (Alternatively, let meat cool in sauce.) Meat can be braised up to 4 days ahead of serving. Reheat in sauce.