Okra

I am in LOVE with okra right now.  I had never tried it before two weeks ago, but it was love at first taste.  I happened to try some pickled okra at the farmer’s market, and was surprised to like it.  I know that a lot of people like it breaded and deep fried, but that’s not my style, so I thought I would try my hand at experimenting with different preparations.  Many people avoid okra because it can become slimy during the cooking process.  It is also commonly used in stews as a thickening agent.  After looking at some online recipes, I decided to try to sauté it.  I used just cooking spray, freshly ground black pepper, salt, and garlic powder.  It turned out great!  I then decided to try to sauté it with some cumin along with the other seasonings.  It was even better.  Next, I made a veggie stock and added the sautéed okra.  I found that through the sautéing process, the okra held up in the stock.  Next, I added soy sauce and garlic chili sauce to the stock to give it an Asian flare.  Again, it was awesome!!  Lastly, I pickled some using vinegar, jalapenos, and garlic.  This preparation lasted longer since it was pickled and was also very tasty.  I highly recommend trying different things with okra.  It is super nutritious and can be very delicious.