Email to Cat      

Okra and Tomatoes

Source of Recipe

From "Real Cajun" by Donald Link


Recipe Introduction

"I've seen countless variations on this dish. The method I have here is to really cook down the tomatoes to make a sauce while keeping the okra firm. Cooking okra requires great skill owing to the slime factor. Whenever I use okra for anything except deep-frying I saut� it in hot oil for about 5 minutes to cook out the slimy quality. Deep-frying okra achieves the same effect. At the same time, you must be careful not to overcook it because then it will revert to mush; there has to be a balance, as you still want it to taste like okra. The tomatoes in the dish play a supporting role for the okra. The recipe calls for chicken broth, but water or vegetable broth can be used. This thick, jammy saut� is delicious alongside any roasted meat, or served atop cheesy spoonbread, baked grits, or steamed rice."

List of Ingredients

◦ 1 tablespoon bacon fat
◦ � medium onion, thinly sliced
◦ 1 jalape�o pepper, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
◦ 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
◦ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
◦ 3 plum tomatoes, diced
◦ 1 teaspoon salt
◦ � teaspoon ground black pepper
◦ 4 bay leaves
◦ 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
◦ � teaspoon red pepper flakes
◦ 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
◦ 1 ⅓ cups chicken or vegetable broth
◦ 2 tablespoons olive oil
◦ 3 cups trimmed okra, cut into 1 �-inch slices


Recipe

In a medium skillet, heat the bacon fat over medium-high heat.
Add the onion, jalape�o, and garlic and saut� for 2 minutes.

Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, salt, pepper, bay leaves, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and vinegar. Cook for 10 minutes, until the tomatoes start to break down and form something of a paste, then add the broth and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes longer over low heat.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the okra and saut� for about 5 minutes. Stir the okra into the tomato sauce, raise the heat to medium, and simmer for another 10 minutes. Taste for seasonings and adjust as desired.

Serves 4