Recipes for okra lovers only

KYLE’S KITCHEN

Look away now if you are not an okra lover. Mom never cooked okra. I guess she doesn’t like it. I have come to find out my “roommates” are very picky about food.

I remember my grandmother Adams making fried okra and I loved it. As I’ve grown older I have really started liking it. It is available year-round now at HEB. And I’m sure it won’t be long before it’s available at Brook-shire’s and Walmart.

I have a friend, Lee, who grew up in several states in the deep south and he turned me on to okra and tomatoes, which it turns out everyone but me was already aware of. That’s some good eatin’ right there.

So here are a bunch of okra recipes I’ve come across. I haven’t tried them all but I’m looking forward to doing so this spring.

This isn’t much of a recipe, but the main way I’ve been making them lately is roasting in the oven. Cut them into rounds or lengthwise, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. Place on a cookie sheet cut sides down in a 425 degree oven until they are as crispy as you like.

Dry Fried Okra

1 pound okra sliced into ¼ in rounds

½ cup cornmeal

Oil and salt

Place the cornmeal into a ziptop bag. Add the okra slices and shake to coat thoroughly. Empty into a dry colander and shake off excess cornmeal. Add enough oil to coat the bottom of a skillet. Place on medium-high meat until the oil is 370 degrees. Add the okra and fry until golden brown on one side, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir occasionally until okra is golden brown on all sides, about another 5 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on newspaper. Season with salt.

Baked Okra and Cheese

2 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen whole okra, partially thawed

OR use fresh whole okra, just enough to layer the bottom of pan

Salt and pepper to taste

4 slices bacon, cut into 2-inch pieces

1½ c. shredded cheddar cheese

Place okra in a single layer in a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange bacon pieces 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 more minutes.

Okra and Tomatoes

2 Bay leaves

1 clove garlic or to taste

1½ pounds okra, sliced

1 onion

2 sprigs thyme

4 tomatoes

Salt and pepper

2 tbsp butter

½ cup dry red wine

Heat butter in a shallow pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook until pale golden, about 3 minutes. Add red wine, and cook, stirring occasionally, until wine has reduced by half. Add okra, tomatoes, thyme, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are fork-tender, about 15 minutes.