Greek chicken with okra is a wonderful summer dish, bursting with flavour and delicious aromas! The okra cooks in a rich tomato sauce, absorbing all the flavour of the chicken, while the chicken becomes tender and juicy. It is a hearty version of the classic okra dish that you can enjoy all year round, as it tastes just as delicious when made with frozen okra. A complete, comforting homemade meal that truly deserves a place at the family table!

🛒Ingredients

• 🍗 3 chicken drumsticks
• 🫛 500 g okra
• 🫒 1/4 cup olive oil
• 🧅 1 onion, finely chopped
• 🌶️ 1 red Florina pepper, finely chopped, optional
• 🍅 2 ripe tomatoes, grated, or 1 cup tomato juice
• 🌿 1 cup finely chopped parsley
• 🥄 3 Tbsp vinegar
• 🧂 Salt and pepper
• 🥄 A little sugar, optional, if using fresh tomatoes

👩‍🍳Instructions

Wash the okra thoroughly in plenty of water, handling it gently, and drain well. Carefully trim the stem at the top of each pod.

Once you have cleaned the okra, sprinkle it with 1 tsp salt and drizzle with 3 tbsp vinegar. Toss gently and leave to stand for about one hour.

Heat the olive oil in a pot and brown the chicken drumsticks on both sides. Remove them from the pot and set aside.

Cut the onion and pepper into small pieces and sauté them in the same oil until softened.

Return the chicken drumsticks to the pot. Cut the fresh tomatoes into small cubes, grate or purée them, and add them to the pot. Season carefully with salt and pepper, keeping in mind that you have already added salt to the okra.

Add enough water to cover the chicken and cook until tender. Once cooked, remove the drumsticks from the pot and set them aside.

Add the finely chopped parsley and okra to the cooking liquid. If necessary, add a little more water so that the okra is covered. Simmer over low heat and check the liquid regularly. Do not stir, as this may cause the okra to break apart. If necessary, gently shake the pot instead.

Once the okra is tender, carefully return the chicken drumsticks to the pot. Allow everything to simmer together for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.

If you love okra, try the classic Greek ladera version as well. Greek Okra in Fresh Tomato Sauce.

Keep in mind…

🔸 Trim the stem of each okra pod into a cone shape, as shown in the photo. If you cut it straight across and too low, the small holes inside will be exposed and the okra will release its characteristic slimy liquid, which is exactly what puts many people off eating it. If you cut it straight across and too high, the stem will take longer to soften than the rest of the pod, so the okra may become overcooked. It is therefore worth taking a little extra time to trim each pod correctly. If you accidentally cut too deeply and expose the holes inside, it is best to discard that pod.

🔸 If you have prepared my homemade tomato sauce, you can use it instead of fresh tomatoes or store-bought tomato sauce. In this case, there is no need to add the pepper, as the sauce already contains it.

🔸 For a lighter dish, you can remove the skin from the chicken before browning it.

🔸 Alternatively, while the okra is simmering, place the cooked chicken drumsticks under the grill for a few minutes, until the skin becomes crisp. Serve each crispy drumstick with the okra.

Enjoy!
Nanà…✍️