Brown Rice and Okra Stew

I love tangy sourdough bread bowls, and they are perfect for serving rich thick stews and soups. The bread bowl soaked with the goodness from the soup/stew is a filling treat.

Rather than baking my own bread bowls I left it to the master artisan bakers who supply it to my local grocery store. Simply warm per directions, slice the top, scoop out the innards and fill with stew.

Ingredients
2 cups frozen cut okra, thawed (fresh okra is hard to come by here)
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 stalk celery, chopped
½ cup cut baby corn
1 small red onion or a few shallots, diced
½ can stewed diced tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes if in season)
4 - 6 cloves of garlic, crushed
optional: cooked lima beans, peas, butter beans, double beans
6 cups water or stock
1 tsp canola or vegetable oil

Spices:
cayenne pepper, cumin powder, coriander powder (1 Tbsp each, or adjust to taste)
2 or 3 bay leaves
salt to taste
1 Tbsp brown sugar

garnish: spring onions, cilantro

Preparation

1. Heat the oil in a pot, sauté the onions and garlic; add the celery, tomatoes, okra and any other vegetables, brown rice, some salt, spices and bay leaves, stock/water, cover and allow to simmer over medium heat till thickened
2. Stir in the brown sugar, adjust flavors to taste
3. Warm up the bread bowl per package directions and serve it filled with the stew, garnish with chopped spring onions and cilantro leaves