Ghanaian Okro Stew (Okra Stew with Smoked Fish and Palm Oil)

About This Recipe

Ghanaian Okro Stew is a real, traditional Ghanaian dish, known as Okra Stew with Smoked Fish and Palm Oil. Finely chopped okra simmered down into a thick, slightly gelatinous stew with smoked fish and palm oil, a classic Ghanaian favorite.\n\nOkro stew reflects Ghana's broad culinary use of okra as both a vegetable and natural thickener, historically paired with smoked or dried fish and palm oil to create a rich, deeply savory sauce eaten with fufu or banku.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Ghanaian home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 800 gfresh okra(finely chopped)
• 4 tbspred palm oil
• 1yellow onion(diced)
• 3tomatoes(diced)
• 200 gsmoked fish(flaked, bones removed)
• 1scotch bonnet pepper(minced)
• 1 tspground crayfish or shrimp powder
• 500 mlwater or stock
• 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook the aromatics

   Heat red palm oil in a pot and cook the onion until soft, about 8 minutes.

2. 2

   Build the base

   Add tomatoes and scotch bonnet, simmering for 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Add liquid

   Pour in water or stock and bring to a simmer.

4. 4

   Add okra

   Stir in the finely chopped okra and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 to 20 minutes until it breaks down into a thick, slightly gelatinous stew.

5. 5

   Add fish

   Fold in the flaked smoked fish and crayfish powder.

6. 6

   Finish

   Simmer for another 10 minutes to meld the flavors, season with salt, and serve hot with fufu, banku or rice.

Variations

• •

  Add smoked turkey or beef alongside the fish for extra protein and depth.

• •

  Some households add a bit of ground egusi (melon seeds) for a richer, thicker stew.

• •

  A vegetarian version skips the fish and adds extra vegetables and crayfish-free seasoning.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions