Okra and Palm Oil Stew with Diced Beef

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

A hearty Nigerian-style stew featuring tender beef simmered with fresh okra and rich red palm oil for a deep, earthy flavor. This African recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs beef stew meat, diced, fresh okra, red palm oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 390 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs beef stew meat, diced
• 2 cups, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces fresh okra
• 1/4 cup red palm oil
• 1 large, chopped onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 3 medium, chopped fresh tomatoes
• 1 small, minced scotch bonnet pepper
• 2 tbsp dried crayfish powder
• 2 cups water or beef stock
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1/4 cup red palm oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 large chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 4 minutes until translucent.
2. Step 2: Add 1.5 lbs diced beef stew meat and brown on all sides for about 8 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Step 3: Stir in 3 chopped fresh tomatoes and 1 small minced scotch bonnet pepper, cooking for 5 minutes until tomatoes soften.
4. Step 4: Pour in 2 cups water or beef stock along with 2 tbsp dried crayfish powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp dried thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 45 minutes until beef is tender.
5. Step 5: Add 2 cups sliced fresh okra and simmer uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until okra is tender but not slimy, and the stew is thickened.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and serve this rich stew alongside pounded yam or rice.