Fried Okra -- Give it some serious love!
Here in the South it's been a regular side dish amongst most everyone I know, since I can remember. It's a very interesting fruit/veggie. But the truth is, I would have never eaten it (still don't) unless it's fried.
But I do LOVE the fried variety. Anybody else?
How about you Northerners... do you eat fried okra often, or at all?
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17 Comments:
Count me in! I make it at home using the Lee brothers' recipe. YUM.
Alaina Browne at 9:35AM on 06/29/08
I love it! I do make it at home when I can find it, which is not all that often in NYC unless I go to the Indian markets in Queens. I only make it fried occasionally, more often I just saute it with some cajun seasoning, or make it in an Indian preparation.
Catherine at 9:39AM on 06/29/08
I love it - I use the frozen kind (I can get it chopped in bags in NY State (I live in Canada on the border). But nothing beats the fresh stuff - which we see about twice a year for a week or so. I find it does well in stir fry as well - with red peppers, onions, and any protein of choice.
Maureen at 10:01AM on 06/29/08
I'm a Yankee but my parents were from Oklahoma and Texas. My father cured me early from wanting stewed, slimy okra. It wasn't until adulthood, while on a business trip to the south, that I discovered fried okra! It's real hard to get fresh okra in the Pacific Northwest but when I have relatives from Dixie visit, they'll bring me a 10 lb. crate of okra that I'll fry up and help dispatch with great gusto!
Still won't eat the stuff any other way. I even cook gallons of gumbo throughout the year; sans okra...
czken at 3:22PM on 06/29/08
I love okra, in every way I've encountered it, but most especially fried and in gumbo. I was actually nervous the first time my non-southern husband ate some, since I know so many people hate the stuff. But he's a fan too, so it makes appearances at least once or twice a month in our house.
I tried homemade fried okra but the batter fell off the okra. Then I bought a bag of battered frozen okra and that came out well, but I much prefer to get my fried foods on the outside. So I'll cook it sauteed or lightly braised with onions, chicken stock, and either bacon, curry powder, or nothing, depending on what else is on the plate.
But the best is gumbo, undoubtedly. Possibly my favorite food.
renzata at 3:53PM on 06/29/08
I've always loved okra, since I was a little kid. While I do prefer it steamed or in gumbo, deep fried is pretty good. I am apprehensive about ordering them deep fried at restaurants since I've had one too many tough husks of okra that you have to spit out or tasted the freezer burn.
Cassaendra at 5:14PM on 06/29/08
Well, I'm a Southerner through and through, and I ADORE okra!
Fried is my favorite way to eat okra, but I totally love smothered okra with tomatoes, okra in gumbo, and a quick "stir-fried" okra with lots of vinegar, S&P. YUM!
GumbeauxGal at 1:49AM on 06/30/08
I'll "tolerate" okra in gumbos and stews, but my preference is the way my hillbilly Gramma used to make it...tossed in some cornmeal seasoned with salt and pepper. I forgo the lard and use shortening.
That frozen stuff? Will not cross these half-hillbilly lips, nor that which has been "battered". Same thing with fried green tomatoes...batter? What's up with that?
thewrighttaste at 9:02AM on 06/30/08
I'm a yankee expat living in Mississippi. I came back from our local farmers' market this weekend with a bag of tiny okra to fry. I only buy them when they are very tiny so that they are tender. The big, tough pods do nothing for me. I love this time of year when I can have a supper that includes fried okra and a tomato salad (yes, the tomatoes are in).
Library Lady at 9:13AM on 06/30/08
Fried okra is my favorite. I remember as a child going to "Churches" and always having a side of okra. I can't think of any place that cooks its okra better than "Churches". Though I no longer eat their chicken on a bone. I'll order a side of okra and some chicken strips. Fried okra is a Texas favorite.
latisha1903 at 9:49AM on 06/30/08
Love okra, in just about any form! And I come from a long line of Yankees. I did spend a year in NC, years back - but even before that, I was a confirmed okra lover.
CookiePie at 10:06AM on 06/30/08
I love fried okra. I also really enjoy it when it's prepared in Indian styles.
Confession: the first time I ever tried okra was during my first visit to Nashville. My best friend brought me to a Cracker Barrel restaurant and ordered the fried okra. It wasn't bad, but it made me want the better, homemade stuff. Glad I tried something different.
hereandthe at 10:15AM on 06/30/08
I had never tasted okra any other way than steamed until I was in my twenties, I think. Wonderful surprise when I ate the first crunchy one... In my part of Brasil they do a slimy chicken stew with okra, served with polenta (frango com quiabo e angu).
Blip at 10:26AM on 06/30/08
I like fried okra, but don't across it that often in NorCal. I LOVE pickled okra and can eat half a jar standing in front of the fridge. Good in bloody marys.
mmmargie at 11:22AM on 06/30/08
@Blip...........okay, somebody's gotta say it. "Slimey Chicken Stew" with slimey okra. Sorry, but that sounds more than nasty, almost fatal.
The first time I saw okra, it was a bowl of slime, I touched it and there was no way that was passing my lips. Later, I had it in a dish and was willing to give it a try, as long as there was no slime. I can take it or leave it, unless it's slimey. Then, OMG, bring me a barf bowl. I have never grown it, ordered it or purchased it and have no idea how you get rid of the slime.
Fried isn't slimey?
I don't think I've ever used that word so many times in my entire life! ;-)
PerkyMac at 11:36AM on 06/30/08
This story is so funny and ironic! I just bought fresh okra this week (in Northern San Diego) and introduced three people to it this weekend! Of course I made a "fried" version with cornmeal and it was gone before everything else. I must go buy more before it disappears for the year!
My sister who lives in North Carolina tends to pay me in fresh Georgia okra for watching her kids!
Top Sheff at 11:43AM on 06/30/08
Fried okra is not slimey at all. I do mine in cornmeal and a bit of flour and salt and pepper. I have had the Cracker Barrel stuff and I will eat it, but I find it too heavily battered. I find the finer the cornmeal, the better!
Maureen at 12:00PM on 06/30/08