OKRA AND TOMATO RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over high heat. Sprinkle the beef with salt and pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon of each). Add the beef to the hot oil along with the beef bouillon, onion and garlic and cook until the beef is seared, about 5 minutes; reduce the heat to medium. Continue to cook, stirring, until the beef is browned, about 3 more minutes. Remove the beef to a plate and set aside.
• Stir the tomato sauce, beef stock, tomato paste, ginger, sugar, 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper and 1 cup water into the pot. Bring to a boil; season with additional salt. Return the beef to the pot and add the okra. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the okra is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Add additional stock or water if the stew is too thick; the okra will thicken the stew as it cooks.

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs well with 1 teaspoon salt, sesame oil and rice wine or sherry. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until well combined, then stir in the sugar and ketchup.
• If using fresh tomatoes, core and cut them into 1/2-inch wide wedges.
• Heat a wide nonstick skillet over high heat with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. When the oil shimmers, add most of the scallions, saving some to garnish. Cook, stirring, until very aromatic, about 20 seconds. Add the eggs, and cook, stirring well with a spatula or chopsticks, until just set but still runny, about 45 seconds. Pour the eggs back into the mixing bowl, and wipe out the pan.
• Reheat the pan over high heat with the remaining tablespoon of oil. When it is hot, add the ginger and cook until aromatic, about 15 seconds. Add the tomatoes and salt to taste; cook, stirring occasionally, until the flesh has softened but still has some shape and the juices have begun to form a sauce, 2-3 minutes. (If using canned tomatoes, add the juice as well and cook about 4 minutes, to reduce it to a saucelike consistency.)
• Reduce the heat to medium. Give the cornstarch-ketchup mixture a stir in its bowl, then stir it into the pan. Cook, stirring, until the sauce returns to a boil and thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, sugar or more ketchup — you want a savory, tart-sweet sauce. Stir the eggs in the bowl to cut up the curds a bit, then return them to the pan. Cook, stirring, for a few seconds to finish cooking the eggs and to combine. Top with the reserved scallions, and serve with steamed rice.