Okra/Bhindi (deja vu!)

[murraybiscuit]

Ever cooked okra / gumbo?

I saw some okra in a greengrocer a few months back, finally decided to cook some this week and they don't have any in stock.
Anybody ever made a dish with okra?
When is it in season?

 

[Stefanmuller]

Wtf are you talking about? Sounds like something from Lords of the Rings! I want!

 

[murraybiscuit]

it's the seedpod of a plant from the hibiscus / mallow family.
about the size of an index finger.
when cooked, it apparently goes quite glutinous.
popular in african, arabic and cajun dishes in particular.
the cajun / caribbean method is to make a stew with shrimps (prawns) called "gumbo"
the africans either make a soup or a veggie stew and pap.

 

[blunomore]

it's the seedpod of a plant from the hibiscus / mallow family.
about the size of an index finger.
when cooked, it apparently goes quite glutinous.
popular in african, arabic and cajun dishes in particular.
the cajun / caribbean method is to make a stew with shrimps (prawns) called "gumbo"
the africans either make a soup or a veggie stew and pap.

I found it difficult to cook!

It is apparently NOT meant to go all gooey and thready (is that a word?) when you cook it, but that's exactly how it comes out when I attempt it

AFAIK it should be prepared quite fast in order for it to keep a crispy/hard texture.

Let me know if you find out how to do it.

 

[ponder]

Hey blu, look okra curry http://www.africhef.com/Curried-Okra-Recipe.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/okra
http://southernfood.about.com/library/weekly/aa081401c.htm
http://southernfood.about.com/library/weekly/aa081401b.htm

 

[murraybiscuit]

tx ponder.
the prep in ice water and salt on the african recipe looks interesting. i wonder why they do that?
this looks flipping amazing, seeing as i've already got most of the ingredients already...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/malaysianfishcurrywi_91831

 

[blunomore]

Hey blu, look okra curry http://www.africhef.com/Curried-Okra-Recipe.html

I know, isn't it great?

That is what I tried, but it came out gooey!

 

[ponder]

tx ponder.
the prep in ice water and salt on the african recipe looks interesting. i wonder why they do that?

I suspect it is so it's not so gooey.

 

[cerebus]

Okra should be crunchy, not gooey, if cooked correctly. My father's family is in Texas - they do a lot of cooking with okra. Breading and pan-frying is always a winner.

 

[UnUnOctium]

Hmm, this might be a 'coded' thread. You know, how do we 'cook okra' ?

 

[blunomore]

Okra should be crunchy, not gooey, if cooked correctly. My father's family is in Texas - they do a lot of cooking with okra. Breading and pan-frying is always a winner.

But .... t'is what I said in my posts above

 

[cerebus]

But .... t'is what I said in my posts above

EVEN the pan-frying bit??? I don't think so.

 

[sdd]

i manage to get this perfect everytime .... (I think it is called lady fingers in some parts)

try this ....

use canola oil in a hot aluminium wok over a gas burner/stove. you need high heat - especially if you are cooking it at the highveld.

blitz it in hot oil until it starts to burn - add dried chillies and spices and at the end a tablespoon of dessicated coconut.

i dont have the exact recipe but when I make this - it is a winner every time.

 

[sdd]

remember guys - cooking up here in the highveld is different from cooking down at the coast ....

 

[murraybiscuit]

Okra should be crunchy, not gooey, if cooked correctly. My father's family is in Texas - they do a lot of cooking with okra. Breading and pan-frying is always a winner.

okay, you mail southfork for a recipe and let me know. i'm super keen to learn something new...

Hmm, this might be a 'coded' thread. You know, how do we 'cook okra' ?

yes. and we're not telling.

i manage to get this perfect everytime .... (I think it is called lady fingers in some parts)
i dont have the exact recipe but when I make this - it is a winner every time.

well at lest somebody knows how to cook around here

 

[murraybiscuit]

btw @ssd - where do you get your ladyfingers from?

 

[sdd]

btw @ssd - where do you get your ladyfingers from?

sdd replies:
fruit and veg city has them ... in centurion we have this gorgeous Food Lovers Market (elite Fruit and Veg) ... they stock it.... otherwise the Fruit and Veg in Rivonia ....

cheers
superdad

 

[murraybiscuit]

thanks superdad...
tried the one in 4ways but no luck.
hmmm. i'll give my other supplier a shot.

 

[blunomore]

EVEN the pan-frying bit??? I don't think so.

Noooo. I said it is meant to be crispy/firm.

 

[sdd]

Noooo. I said it is meant to be crispy/firm.

use a dash of dark soya sauce when cooking for the browned look.

During a cooking class in South India, I learnt the trick of adding just a small bit of melted ghee/clarified butter to it before serving ....