Smoky Okra Recipes

SMOKY OKRA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Toss 1 pound okra with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and smoked paprika. Thread the okra across 2 skewers, leaving a bit of space between each piece. Grill until tender and charred, 4 to 5 minutes per side.

SMOKY VEGGIE FEIJOADA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
• Halve and deseed the squash, then carefully chop into 3cm chunks. In a large roasting tray, toss and massage it with 1 teaspoon of oil, the ground coriander and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
• Deseed the peppers and cut into 3cm chunks, then, in a separate tray, toss and massage them with 1 teaspoon of oil and the smoked paprika. Place both trays in the oven for 35 minutes, or until softened.
• Meanwhile, peel and finely chop ¼ of an onion and put aside, then roughly chop the rest and place in a large casserole pan on a low heat with 1 tablespoon of oil. Crush in the garlic, add the bay leaves and a good splash of water and cook for 20 minutes, or until soft, stirring regularly.
• Tip in the beans, juice and all, then half-fill each empty tin with water, swirl and pour into the pan. Simmer until the time is up on the squash and peppers, then stir both into the pan.
• Trim, finely slice and add the okra, and simmer for a further 20 minutes, or until the feijoada is dark and delicious, loosening with an extra splash of water, if needed.
• Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the packet instructions, then drain.
• To make a quick salsa, deseed the tomatoes, then finely chop with as much chilli as you like and most of the coriander leaves. Scrape into a bowl with the reserved finely chopped onion and toss with the lime juice, then season to perfection.
• Remove 4 portions of feijoada, bag them up and once completely cool, freeze for a rainy day, when you'll be really grateful it's there.
• Serve the remaining feijoada with the rice and salsa, a spoonful of yoghurt and a sprinkling of the remaining coriander leaves.

EASY ROASTED OKRA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Slice each okra pod in half. Place the okra in a medium bowl and mix with the olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the pods face-down on the baking sheet in an even layer. Roast for about 15 minutes until tender and lightly crisped at the edges. Serve immediately (best eaten right out of the oven, but you can refrigerate leftovers if desired).

OKRA ROASTED WITH SMOKED PAPRIKA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Toss together all ingredients. Arrange in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; roast until okra is tender and lightly browned, 30-35 minutes.

SMOKED PORK CHOPS WITH CORN AND OKRA

Steps:

• Sprinkle the pork chops with pepper and Cajun seasoning to taste. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the corn and okra and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato, 3 tablespoons water, the honey and 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning; cook until the tomato is slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Return the chops to the skillet; cover and cook until the vegetables are tender and the chops are heated through, 2 to 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle the pork chops with pepper and Cajun seasoning to taste. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the corn and okra and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato, 3 tablespoons water, the honey and 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning; cook until the tomato is slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Return the chops to the skillet; cover and cook until the vegetables are tender and the chops are heated through, 2 to 5 minutes.