Does anyone else here like okra? I think it is a highly underated vegetable.

[DGeorge]

I've run into people who claim to love gumbo but have no idea that okra is the key ingredient. I get jars of pickled okra, good snack, but I also grow it. Why is it so disgusting to some people? The flavor is excellent and it thickens anything you use it in. Hell, I got a bumper crop of it in NH, so it isn't just a "southern" thing. Sorry to rant, but in defense of okra, it is AWESOME!

[angstlessk]

1. It has slime like what is in a hankerchief after blowin ones nose...

SNOT

[DGeorge]

5. Um, yeah, but it still tastes good.

[antiquie]

2. I like fried okra.

We have grown it many years -- not this one.

[DGeorge]

6. I do that too. It's great in an egg and cheese wrap - with hot sauce, of course.

[RebelOne]

35. Fried is the best way to enjoy okra. n/t

[classof56]

3. My southern-raised Mom loved okra.

Always made sure to cook it for her, but never really liked it myself. She lived to be 96 and in pretty good health until the end. Maybe I should rethink my dislike of okra! Thanks for your recommendation!

Class

[DGeorge]

7. Okra is the key to the fountain of youth.

[classof56]

10. Well, you've made a believer of me!

Thanks--and welcome to DU!

[DGeorge]

12. If there is a god, he made okra to sort out the people who are worthy.

[classof56]

15. In that case, my sweet Christian mom is definitely in heaven, enjoying her rewards!

Thanks for several smiles this evening, and blessings to you!

[DGeorge]

17. Either that or with the Flying Spaghetti Monster and his noodly apendage.

[classof56]

22. I have a son-in-law who would agree with you 100%.

My mother? Never, but I honor her beliefs and the way she led her life.

Thanks for the chuckle.

[DGeorge]

26. WWFSMD?

[classof56]

40. Gosh I dunno...ask for meatballs with a side of okra?

Actually, that's a great question. I'll run it by my s-i-l. His answer will doubtless include a quote by Norm Chomsky or Howard Zinn.

Peace!

[Taverner]

4. Great in Jambalaya!

[DGeorge]

8. Try it in chili. It gives it more body than a pound of beans.

[Taverner]

9. That would work!

Of course I mince Ghost Peppers in my chili

[DGeorge]

11. Keep an extra roll of toilet paper handy. Those fuckers are nasty.

[Taverner]

19. Oh I know - use gloves and a face mask when mincing

Do not use mincer for anything else until bleached

But 1 ghost pepper can make 4 liters of chili!

[DGeorge]

23. Just don't go pee after handling them. OUCH!

[Taverner]

20. For 4 liters of chili, I use black, kidney and pinto beans, habanero, ghost and jalepeno

As well as some other sweeter peppers, like bell and anaheim

Hatch, if I can get them

The pepper makes the chili!!!!!!

ON EDIT: And okra kinda looks like a pepper!

[DGeorge]

24. We grow paper lanterns. About 45,000 scoval units. It's the only pepper that ever made me sweat.

Edit to add the comma.

[antiquie]

41. Habanero, ghost and jalepeno!

[OriginalGeek]

13. If I'm not careful

I can eat a whole jar of pickled okra before I even knew it was open.

Fried is good too. In Gumbo/Jambalaya/stews whatever...okra is a lovely thing.

[DGeorge]

14. Yeah, I've gone through an entire jar of pickled okra for breakfast.

Good shit, Maynard.

[Recursion]

38. That's a tradition of mine on the opening day of NCAA football

My TV, my Mississippi State jersey, and a jar of pickled okra. The okra usually lasts through the first three quarters of the first game.

[OriginalGeek]

46. Nice!

I might steal the idea but with Florida State....Since I already missed opening day I'll get a practice run in on Florida- Florida State day.

I think we can both agree that pickled okra and a Gators loss is a nice day.

[GoCubsGo]

16. Yes. I like it a lot.

Pickled is my favorite way, but I like it in stews and fried, too.

[DGeorge]

18. It's also good raw. I pluck them out of the garden and snarf on them. Yum.

[GoCubsGo]

21. I never thought of eating it raw.

Will have to try that one of these days.

[DGeorge]

25. That's the BEST way!!!!!!!!!

[Neoma]

27. Love them.

[DGeorge]

28. OOOOHHH!!! I scored large artichokes for $.99 each today!!! Yum!

[texanwitch]

29. I like fried okra only.

I grew a lot of it in the garden.

You don't even need a garden to grow it.

Just plant it anywheres, it has a beautiful bloom.

[DGeorge]

30. Wimp. If you can't eat it raw you disrespect it. And yes, the blossoms are AWESOME!

Sorry about the wimp thing, joke you know. I've only got one plant this year and it is practically shedding fruits. It didn't do well earlier in the season but it's in full bloom and throwing out dozens of new shoots. We'll be set for a while.

In other news, the four acorn squash plants took over about 28' of space and are STILL throwing out new fruits. They're almost too sweet to eat. My wife mixed them in with potatoes and made a killer stew. The hot peppers did really well but the green peppers petered out. We got a few cucumbers and the tomatoes were, well, meh. We haven't dug up the taters yet but I expect they will be plentiful. I'm waiting two weeks so my youngest daughter can join us for the harvest (first year of college).

I can't live without a garden. I'm one of four in the neighborhood of 50 who grow stuff to eat. If you have land, don't poison it (kills the bees) and grow your own damn food. Who needs a quarter acre of pristine green poisoned grass? I've got dandylions and clover everywhere and the bees are more than happy to visit my yard. Without pollinators we can't survive.

Sorry to rant, but I feel like an outcast for having a bee-friendly yard. Then again, I have a productive garden. There's so much that I actually give a lot away to the neighbors. It isn't even that big of a plot.

Believe in god or not (I don't), we're the caretakers of the other critters on the planet. The NRA doesn't see it that way, but those of us with ethics do. I raised my three daughters to have said ethics. If we can't take care of the fauna, how can we hope to take care of ourselves? The answer is obvious. Yes, I'm vegetarian, as are my daughters.

Wait, were we talking about okra? I think I got off topic. Then again, I'm drunk. Sorry.

We are the caretakers. All living things deserve respect and protection. I'm the spider man, not as in the comic character, but rather that spiders find me, including ones smaller than fleas. I handle them, pet them, and find them safe places. Somehow they just know to come to me, as do all of the lost dogs in the region. What, do I radiate "softy" or something? It's an obligation to care for everything. I'm not religous, but I do have a code of ethics. And what does this have to do with okra again? I should go to bed.

As humans we are a plague on the planet, but we can serve as agents of good. Unfortunately, that's not how most view things. We have to care for the critters and put our selfish feelings aside. Humans are no better than critters. We just have the capacity to kill them without remorse. I feel no such remorse because I don't kill them and I don't eat them. If only the majority of people felt as I do.

Take care

[texanwitch]

33. I need a garden, I like the fresh produce.

I feed the birds, and even other little wildlife that show up.

I don't know if I could life in a apartment.

The okra grew like crazy this year, plenty for the whole year in the freezer.

There is nothing like going to garden and picking something fresh.

Take care.

[onestepforward]

31. Here's an easy way to cook it slime-free:

Wash and cut the ends off. Cut it into approx. 1/3" pieces. Toss in a bowl with a little olive oil to coat, along with salt and pepper (I use "Ragin' Cajun" spice blend.)

Roast in the oven at 425 until lightly browned. You can flip them 1/2 through, approx. 10 min. or so.

They taste like fried (without the coating) and are slime-free.

Easy and yummy!

[Xyzse]

32. I like it...

Sadly the best way it is prepared, is also not the healthiest.
Sorry, just came from New Orleans so....

[seabeyond]

34. eeew. but good for you if you like it. bet it is healthy. fried. i might do fried.

but then, that is not so healthy

[pinboy3niner]

36. Grilled okra also is good

You can use a standard marinade for vegetables or try your own concoction. A little oil, lemon, garlic, maybe a dash of soy sauce...be as creative as you like.

[Recursion]

37. Here's my mother in law's bhindi posto (okra in poppyseed paste) recipe

8 oz okra
3 tbsp poppy seeds
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1/2 cup mustard oil (this can be hard to find; substitute in order of preference safflower, peanut, sunflower, corn, canola), divided into 1/4 cups
1 tsp salt + salt to taste
1 white onion
1 green chili
1/4 cup water

She buys her posto (poppyseed paste), but that's not available in most US supermarkets, so:

soak mustard seeds and poppy seeds in warm water for half an hour (it should start releasing a kind of milky white liquid). Drain and crush in a pestle or with a wet/dry food processor. This paste is your posto.

Wash and dry the okra; chop into one-inch chunks. Toss with 1 tsp salt. (Always salt okra after chopping or it will get slimy)

Finely chop onion and chili; combine.

Heat 1/4 cup of oil on a skillet (cast iron is great if you have it). When quite hot, saute okra chunks until light brown.

Remove okra, retaining oil in pan; pat okra dry with towel.

Fry onion and chili until browned and mushy. Add okra, posto, and water; mix in skillet. Add salt to taste. Simmer until reduced to a wet paste texture.

Remove from heat. Toss with remaining oil. Traditionally served with paratha; also works fine over rice.

[B Calm]

39. I grow it every year in my garden, so I must like it. .

[JCMach1]

42. Love it... don't listen to those other people just hatin'

[Tuesday Afternoon]

43. pickled okra is a gift of the gods.

[MrMickeysMom]

44. If you've been served in an Indian restaurant ....

... this is one reason to love it.

[DinahMoeHum]

45. "Limping Susan" aka okra pilau. . .

[RushIsRot]

47. Stewed okra and tomatoes plus a little lemon juice make a delicious sauce for

baked fish.

[libdem4life]

48. Slice up a mess, then buttermilk wash, dredge through Jiffy cornbread mix, sizzle in hot oil

Carefully turn each morsel. Sinful, to be sure.