{"id":14846,"date":"2025-06-09T17:12:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T17:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hadiaslebanesecuisine.com\/blog\/?p=14846"},"modified":"2026-10-17T00:22:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T00:22:46","slug":"lebanese-okra-in-tomatoes-bamia-bil-zeit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hadiaslebanesecuisine.com\/blog\/lebanese-okra-in-tomatoes-bamia-bil-zeit\/","title":{"rendered":"Okra in Tomatoes \/ Bamia Bil Zeit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lebanese-style okra, also known as bamiyeh bil zeit<\/strong>, is a delicious vegetarian Lebanese dish made with tender okra braised in tomatoes, olive oil, onions, and garlic. Served with warm Arabic bread, this simple and comforting Lebanese okra recipe<\/strong> makes a light yet flavorful vegetarian meal, with a harmonious blend of Mediterranean flavors.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Growing up with a Lebanese mother and granny means eating very well!<\/h2>\n

Thanks to my mother and granny, we always had great food on our table. Growing up, Mum cooked a wonderful range of Lebanese dishes, from hearty meat stews to simpler vegetarian, oil-based dishes that were frugal and made with the most inexpensive ingredients.<\/p>\n

One of these was okra braised in tomatoes, aka bamieh bil zeit<\/em>\u2014a modest yet delicious main dish that I still make regularly. Besides all its virtues, it\u2019s also vegan and gluten-free.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What Is Bamia Bil Zeit?<\/h3>\n

Bamia bil zeit<\/strong> translates to \u201cokra in oil.\u201d In Lebanon and across the Middle East, there is a wide variety of vegan stews known as \u201cbil zeit\u201d dishes<\/strong>, meaning they contain no meat and are cooked with olive oil\u2014the liquid gold of the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n

Just take a brief look at the ingredient list, and there\u2019s hardly any need to explain how wholesome bamia bil zeit<\/strong> is, much like so many Mediterranean plant-centered dishes.<\/p>\n

Ingredients for Lebanese Okra (Bamia)<\/h2>\n