Recently in my travels round Brixton, I keep coming across Americans who now live here. It’s testament to what a great area Brixton is that many of them say it’s the best neighbourhood they’ve ever lived in and my recipe here is partly inspired by them. But its mainly inspired by my determination not to shudder slightly whenever I see piles of okra on the stalls in the market. I’ve only ever eaten it once as a child and was singularly unimpressed by its slimy texture and have avoided it ever since. But encouraged by African friends who consider it a kitchen staple and those Americans who all responded affirmatively when I mentioned it, I’ve decided to give you my melting pot take on it and like the good Belfast girl I am, fry it. I mean, what food doesn’t taste even better when fried?
I’m branching out a bit here and using cornmeal instead of a batter. I’ve only recently discovered this as a coating for things and can’t get enough of its crunchy crispness, preferably dipped in something spicy and delicious.
Fried Okra:
- about 200g of okra, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 200g yellow cornmeal (also called polenta if you’re looking for it)
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder/cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- seasoning as required.
- vegetable oil for frying
Get your oil on to heat, making sure you only fill your pan a third full of oil so it can’t bubble over. Hot oil can be dangerous so keep a wet cloth nearby and don’t walk away from it at all. It’s ready when a cube of bread sizzles in it.
When buying the okra, make sure the pods are nice and furry and not split at all. Wash them and dry them well. Then dip them into the beaten egg before putting them into the cornmeal and making sure they are well coated. Don’t hang about, do both dippings quickly and put them into the oil immediately to cook. Give them about 2-3 minutes each side or until the okra and the coating both go golden.
Serve immediately, preferably dipped into a little hot sauce and salt. We had them on the side of some curry goat, but these fried okra will go with anything and make a great gluten free vegetarian dish. If like me, you were nervous about the slime potential, don’t be. Fried up like this, it’s a good balance between soft and crunchy and I surprised myself by having seconds, as did my American dining companion…
Miss South blogs at northsouthfood.com
[…] independence day with Miss South’s recipe for fried okra. Buy the okra in Brixton Market, add a few beers and some fried chicken and you’ve got […]