Daddy’s Fried Okra, Potato, and Tomato Goulash Recipe

I’m sure every family has certain recipes that they love and have passed down from generation to generation. This side dish, made with fresh vegetables, is one of our family’s favorites – Daddy’s fried okra, potato, and tomato goulash recipe, or better known to our family as “Goulash.”

My grandmother, Grace used to make this “goulash,” all the time, and I am pretty sure my aunt and uncle still do as well. As long as I can remember, we have had this for meals and at family gatherings.

The Name Goulash

Our family has two different goulash recipes, which are very different from one other. However, we call both of them Goulash! One recipe is the probably the one most people are familiar with. It has ground meat, tomatoes, and macaroni.

Then there is this goulash recipe made with fresh vegetables, mostly from the garden. This one consists of okra, potatoes, and tomatoes. Growing up, we would have to designate our requests by saying the macaroni or okra recipe for goulash.

Since we grew up eating this delicious side dish, I thought everyone ate it. It wasn’t until I decided to share this, that I started wondering about the real name of it. I have Googled just about everything I can think of and can’t find this on the Internet. The closest thing I could find was something call Aloo Bhindi, but even that is quite different. It certainly does not have the Southern flare that daddy’s goulash recipe has.

We call it Goulash, but to help it make sense here, I’m describing it as Daddy’s Fried Okra, Potato, and Tomato Goulash.

Daddy’s Goulash Recipe

A few years ago, we decided to have an old-fashioned Christmas with no store bought gifts (except for the little ones). It was one of the best Christmases! I’m not going to lie, it was difficult to come up with ideas, but it was so meaningful!

My parents did several different things for us that year. One Christmas present was this hand-written Goulash recipe from my dad! This is kind of rare, so it is a treasure!

One year, my mother made us recipe books with some of our favorite family recipes. Soon after that, our son asked for one for his birthday, but it included hand-written recipes from everyone in the family. It is priceless!

We have also given them as wedding gifts. When the whole family chips in and contributes their recipes, it is a little easier, plus the recipient gets hand-written recipes from everyone in the family.

If you are looking for unique and meaningful gifts for your family, I highly recommend these. It will take some time, so get started early.

Link to Recipe Books – They come with the cards to fill out and in a variety of options.

Ingredients for Daddy’s Goulash Recipe

Instructions for Daddy’s Goulash Recipe

Additional Information

• This recipe takes a little bit of time to come together, but it is a fairly easy recipe.
• Since my dad and his siblings usually have a garden (and they share the wealth!), he likes to use fresh vegetables from the garden when he can. The potatoes are usually from the grocery store, but there is nothing like fresh okra, tomatoes, and onions fried up together.
• Feel free to add Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, or a little Red Chili Powder if you like.
• ​You can also use frozen okra in this recipe. Just let it thaw, and you are ready to go.
• It is really good if you cook the okra it until you have a crispy okra. This ensures you will not have any of the slimy texture.
• Cast iron skillets are always great for frying food!
• When the goulash is ready, remove it from the skillet and put it on a plate or in a large bowl lined with paper towels. The paper towels will help drain some of the oil off of the food. If you can manage to put it in a single layer, it will drain even better.

Nutrient Information

I do not have the nutrient information for this side dish. However, since it is fried, you should be cautious if you are on a medically restrictive diet. 

I rarely fry food, but I do eat it on occasion. That is usually when my parents cook something delicious!

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I am curious if you have heard of this type of goulash. If so, what do you call it? Is it a Southern thing or just something my family came up with years ago?

To us, it is Daddy’s Goulash – “the one with okra!”

Printable Recipe Card

Yield: 8

Daddy's Fried Goulash

Print

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Lbs. Okra (Cut okra into Pieces)
• 2 Lbs. Potatoes (Peeled and Cut, Approximately 2 in. long)
• 3 Fresh Ripe Tomatoes (Peeled and Cut Up into Chunks)
• 1 Can of Rotel Tomatoes (Original)
• 1 Onion (Peeled and Diced)
• Salt to Taste
• 1 t. Paprika
• 1/2 t. Cayenne Pepper
• Cornmeal, enough to coat the okra
• 1/2 t. Flour
• Cooking Oil of Your Choice, I prefer Canola Oil

Instructions

1. Mix the cornmeal and flour together and coat the okra with it.
2. Heat enough oil in a large skillet or pan to fry the okra.
3. When the oil is hot, add the okra and cook on low to medium heat, turning as needed.
4. Heat oil in another large skillet or pan. When the oil is hot, add the potatoes and onions. Cook on low to medium heat (turning as needed).
5. When the potato mixture turns a soft brown color, remove and add to the skillet with the okra, stirring them together.
6. Add the remaining ingredients (Tomatoes, Rotel, Paprika, Cayenne Pepper) and cook.
7. Once the tomatoes are cooked through, it is ready to eat.

Notes

This is one of my dad's family recipes, that we all love! He likes to make it with fresh vegetables from the garden.

This recipe requires two large skillets or pans. He usually uses cast iron skillets.

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Until next week…

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“Let the whole earth shout to the Lord; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing.” Psalms 98:4