Monday, August 18, 2008

OKRA-YOU EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT



I love it fried up all crisp and brown. But this year I grew some for Billy to make his world famous gumbo. I am not a fan of gumbo, although I like everything that goes in it. I just don't like it mixed together. I prefer my shrimp, boiled with a good cocktail sauce or fried up in a nice sandwich with lettuce and tomato. I love crabs dipped in butter. Now, I know according to his brothers, his gumbo is really good. I'll take their word for it. I don't like the texture on my tongue. That is funny in a way, because I do like boiled okra in field peas with a big ole hunk of buttery cornbread.

My basil, if I don't get it out of there, is going to overtake my okra. We have been picking okra from just these few plants for a long while. It has been enough for his gumbo but I think next year, I will plant just a few more plants.

Here is a good recipe for Fried Okra..you can leave out the hot sauce but it won't be Southern fried. We use hot sauce in the South.

1 pound fresh okra
2 eggs, beaten
4 to 6 dashes hot pepper sauce
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
oil for deep frying

Wash okra and drain well. Now cut off ends and save them for your compost pile. Cut okra crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. In a bowl, combine beaten eggs and hot sauce. This is what I do, I like it. Add okra and stir to coat all pieces well. In a shallow dish, combine cornmeal, salt and cayenne. Dip okra pieces into cornmeal mixture to coat well.

Now Mama fried hers up in a big black iron skillet but I use a deep fryier. It's all good....

Heat oil in the deep fryer to 375°. Fry okra in batches until browned, about 4 to 6 minutes for each batch. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.

30 comments:

tina said...

I am kind of in between on eating it, but never ever grow it. We don't have it up north, but North Carolina is big into okra. Yours looks to be going great!

DP Nguyen said...

I think I'm in the middle. I love fried okra, and I make an new orlean's style okra gumbo in the winter. I don't like it by itself though. lol. I love it mixed with other veggies. When the gardening season ends, I may end up putting up my recipes on my blog, like you do.

That recipe sounds so delicious. I will have to try it!

We didn't grow okra this year, but maybe next year. I'd love to make okra from the veggies in my garden.

Anonymous said...

I love fried okra, never tried with the hot sauce though. My hubby would like that addition, lol. I'm not crazy about gumbo either.

Anonymous said...

I love anything at all with cornbread! When I was growing up, we use to have it at night in a glass with milk poured over it. Can't see what all the fuss was about now. But I loved it then!
Brenda

flydragon said...

I've never tried a fried shrimp sandwich, never even heard of it, but I'm going to have to check that out!!!

Skeeter said...

I love fried okra but as you, dont care for the gumbo!

Skeeter said...

Forgot to say, I love a good shrimp PoBoy!

Eve said...

flydragon...we eat it on french bread and call it a Shrimp poor boy. But I have just fried up a few for lunch and used plain white bread too.

~Laurie said...

I have only ever eaten okra once and I think I am on the "hate it" side. LOL. There are only a few veggies I dont like and okra is one. The other is asparagus - I just don't like the texture.

Anonymous said...

I love okra. I love it pickled with crackers and cheese and fried - it's so good. It's one of the few things my 2 year old will eat - I found some frozen breaded sliced okra at the store and one day when she would not eat anything she ate that.

I've never had it in gumbo though...

Carla said...

I have been told a dry okra pod is good in with your other seed storage. It pulls out the moisture. I like it fried:), and the taste of it in stews or peas (but not the actual boiled okra)

Amy said...

Okra is something I've never tried. I'm not even sure we can get it in stores here. Is it more of a southern U.S. type of thing?

The raspberries you were asking about were picked in a wild patch. I don't think anyone here grows raspberries to sell, though perhaps that would be a good idea! Most of the farming happens in the southern part of the province. Up here people mostly grow hay and raise free range cattle.

Susie said...

I love it fried, boiled, pickled, in gumbo, or any other way you care to fix it. I think it's a great vegetable.

Eve said...

Amy, it is raised in the South more than any where else in the States but you can buy it frozen in bags at the grocery store.

Lib said...

I love fried okra,don't want no boiled!
Is Danny in Vegas this wk.?
Hope you have a great wk.
Blessins',Lib

nannykim said...

Had to laugh---I now live in the South and am a fan of Okra. But my first experience with it was as a newlywed in NJ. My hubby and I were shopping and sticking to a 32 dollar a week grocery list. We decided to try okra since it was so cheap. It was frozen and we both had never had a vegetable that we didn't like. Well , we boiled the okra according to directions and got a bunch of slime. We both agreed we had found one vegie we didn't like and we figured we now knew why it was so cheap!

Cindy said...

I like it fried and in gumbo but not pickled. I was able to grow it quite successfully here in PA but haven't the past couple of years. Maybe I'll try it again next year, it's been a while since I've had it.

Sharon said...

That poor one person that admitted they were on the hate side made me write this....I agree whole-heartedly! I cannot stand it...fried, boiled, in gumbo...or anywhere else these sly southern cooks try to "hide" it! LOL And, man, do I ever get tired of well-meaning souls who, when they find out you cannot stand it, say "Just wait until you try mine...you will love it!" I am NOT going to try it...let alone love it! Thank God for our wonderful southern manners down here...no one really holds it against you if you won't try something they cook as long as YOU use manners in turning it down. I just have to admit I hate just about everything with little seeds...okra, squash, eggplant....but love, love, love those home grown tomatoes! Go figure! LOL
Dianne

Pennies In My Pocket said...

Mmmmmmm I LOVE okra! I am originally from the South...I miss it. I think I've seen it on maybe one menu over the past 2 decades I'Ve been away from the South. I'm going to try this recipe! Thanks!

~melody~

cinnamongirl93 said...

I have never had fried Okra before. That sounds good.
In Northern Illinois where I love it's hard top find fresh okra. One year I did grow okra at my daughters request. My daughter loves pickled okra.

JoyceAnn said...

Yum ~ sounds delish. Will try your recipe , I like hot and spicy.
I usually batter with flour/cornmeal , salt & pepper and fry in the old iron skillet too.

Have a Great day.

~ Blessings ~
JoyceAnn

Rose said...

Interesting to see the okra plant--I don't think most Midwestern gardens grow it. I'm on the in-between side of okra; I don't hate it, but it's not my favorite vegetable. I've used it in vegetable soup before and have eaten some fried okra. But I have a feeling your homemade spicy okra would be much better!

A Wild Thing said...

Spoken like a true Suthuner...have never grown okree to eat, as a Southern friend called it, grew it for flower arrangements...ha...I'm a Northener you know:o) but it sure sounds yummy...

sharon

~Caroline~ said...

I am in the middle. I like fried okra, but don't like it plain.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Caroline

Gail said...

Love it, especially fried and in soups and well, I like it a lot! I have the best Christmas Ornaments mde from dried okra pods...they are the best Santas! The shake, too!

gail

Anonymous said...

I love Okra too if it's fried. I Looked over your blog and it's so classy. I loved the garden art and decorating the door. So you have great ideas and an awesome garden. So nice to be in your garden today.

Renna said...

Oh, yum, my mouth is watering! I am SO glad I read this post, because I had completely forgotten about a bag of okra out in the extra garage fridge. Someone gave it to Hubby at church on Sunday. I can't believe I forgot we had it.

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom said...

Okra makes great pickles.

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