What is up with "OKRA"???!
What is up with "OKRA"???
I love the stuff, fried or straight out of the jar, but I can't seem to find a lot of recipes or ways to serve it formally. Is there a hype behind Okra and what is the best way to eat/enjoy?
Answers:
You can fry it... dip in egg/milk wash, then dip into seaoned corn meal and fry.
Smother it w/ tomatoes and onions.
Boil and just eat it slimy, cut w/ some pepper vinegar.
Add to gumbo as a thickener.
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Okra & Tomatoes
4 slices bacon, diced into small pieces
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon chicken base
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups fresh okra, cut into 1-inch pieces (may use frozen, if fresh not available)
Fresh ground black pepper
Cook bacon slightly. Saute onion and garlic with bacon until tender. Add tomatoes, chicken base, sugar and pepper. Stir well and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed. Meanwhile wash okra and remove fuzz if using fresh and cut into pieces. Add the okra and simmer until okra is done, about 20 more minutes (less if using frozen okra.)
i like it fried!!!
I put it in gumbo there are quite a few southern recipes
that use it paula deen might have some ideas on food network.I love it fried too.
recipezaar.com has recipes using okra also.
Okra is an acquired taste. A lot of people just dont like the sliminess of it. Here are a few recipes you can try.
BAKED OKRA AND CHEESE
2 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen whole okra, partially thawed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 tsp. butter
4 slices bacon, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
Place okra in a single layer in a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, dot with butter. Arrange bacon over okra and cover tightly with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour. Remove foil. Place under broiler until bacon is brown. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 10 minutes.
BEEF AND OKRA SKILLET
2 lbs. ground beef
15 oz. can tomato sauce
12 oz. can whole kernel corn, undrained
10 oz. pkg. frozen okra, thawed and cut into 3/4 inch pieces
1 tbsp. brown sugar
4 slices sharp American cheese
Brown meat in skillet; drain. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt and add tomato sauce, corn, okra and brown sugar. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Arrange cheese slices on top. Cover; heat 3-4 minutes to melt cheese. Serves 8.
http://southernfood.about.com/library/we...
Okra Salad
Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons white vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 lb small okra pods
1 small onion, thinly sliced and separatedinot rings
1 clove garlic, minced
Tomatoes, slices (optional)
Steps:
1. Combine the first 5 ingredients, and stir well.
2. Blanch okra in boiling water 3 minutes.
3. Drain.
4. Combine warm okra, onion, and garlic in a 12x8x2-inch dish.
5. Pour vinaigrette over okra mixture; toss gently to coat.
6. Marinate at least 2 hours; drain.
7. Arrange on serving plate with tomato slices; if desired.
Good luck and enjoy! =)
Okra is a very underrated food. Because it is more of a Southern thing (like grits), much of the US is unaware of how good it can be. Also, okra often is used to thicken stews and gumbos in coonass or cajun cooking. Okra has a kinda slimy mouth feel to it and many people find this unpleasant.
I personally love okra and eat fried okra, okra and tomatoes, pickled okra, stewed okra, gumbo with okra, etc.
Many southern or cajun cookbooks have lots of okra recipes.
More power to ya!
Lucky you - at least you can buy the stuff. Hasn't been at any vegetable market here for about 3 seasons:(