Skip to main content

All for Okra and Okra for All

As has been  mentioned elsewhere, okra is, for me, an acquired taste. So far, I have tended to the recipes that rather disguise its main characteristics -- smother it in Indian spices, simmer it in sauces, etc.

This recipe puts the mild flavor of okra at the forefront of the dish and really asks you to enjoy the crisp snap of a freshly cooked okra pod. Very nice!


All for Okra and Okra for All
NPR: Kitchen Window

1 quart water
1 c cider vinegar
1 lb okra pods, trimmed
4 T vegetable oil
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced

Combine the water, vinegar, and okra in a large bowl. Soak okra for one hour.
Drain and pat the okra dry. Using a sharp knife, cut the okra lengthwise into thin strips.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Add the onion and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the onion is soft and golden. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 1 minute more; do not let the garlic darken. Using a slotted spoon, scrape the onions onto a plate and set aside.

Stir-fry the okra in the skillet until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomato and onion. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mayocoba Beans with Green Chiles

I love this dish so much that I can barely stand it. Delicious the night it was made, and fantastic as leftovers throughout the week. Mayocoba beans are easily replaced -- try pintos, if you can't find mayocobas. Mayocoba Beans with Green Chiles Baptism of Fire 3-4 green chiles, roasted and chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 T lard or olive oil 1/2 tsp oregano 1 tsp cumin pepper 1 c mayocoba beans, dry 3 c water 1 tsp salt Cook the green chiles, onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, and black pepper in the fat until the onions begin to caramelize. Add the water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and let the beans sit, uncovered, for an hour. You may drain the water to remove some of the slightly indigestible sugars that cause gassiness. If you decide to drain them, add enough water back into the pot to cover the beans with about 2" of water above the beans for cooking.  Bring the beans back to a boil and cook, until tender. This will take...

Curried Chicken Soup

      I made this soup so often in the 1990s, but frankly had forgotten about it.   Flipping through this cookbook, I found this recipe and was flooded with memories. When I was in grad school, this soup was my "feeling decadent" food and reminded me of something people might eat after hitting the slopes -- a thing I have never done. A few decades long, and with a lot more experience with cooking, I realize that this is basically a chicken curry with a thin sauce and the rice already in the meal -- but don't let that in any way discourage you! It's delicious as is and is a wonderful take on what is otherwise chicken and rice soup. I have become a fan of using rotisserie chickens, especially during the pandemic. They are so cheap, and I can use the meat in a soup like this on the day-of grocery shopping, and, crunch the bones down for the freezer for making stock in the future. Of course, this soup can be made with a fresh chicken, but I have modified the recipe bel...

Garlicky Spiced Chicken and Potato Traybake with Pomegranate Molasses

  This was delightful. Particularly the potatoes. While I had used pomegranate molasses before,  I hadn't anticipated liking this as much as I did. I think the difference is in the quality of the molasses. Previously, I had used an economical version, which was much to sweet, much too sticky. I highly recommend splurging on a higher quality ingredient. Garlicky Spiced Chicken and Potato Traybake with Pomegranate Molasses Milk Street 1/4  olive oil 2 tsp pomegranate molasses 1 T allspice 1 tsp coriander 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp cardamon salt and pepper 3 lb chicken , bone-in, skin on, trimmed and patted dry 1 1/2 lb potatoes , unpeeled, in 1 1/2" wedges 8 cloves garlic , peeled parsley , to serve In a large bowl, stir together the oil, molasses, allspice, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, 4 teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Put chicken and potatoes on a large tray. Toss with the sauce. Add garlic cloves. Heat the oven to 450°F. Roast until the thi...