Braised Baby Okra Recipes

BRAISED LAMB SHANK AND OKRA STEW

Steps:

• Make the lamb shanks: Allow lamb to come to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously season lamb with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Working in batches, add lamb and cook until brown on all sides, about 12 minutes. Transfer lamb to a bowl.
• Add onions and spice blend to pot and cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and add cherry tomatoes, stock, cardamom, bay leaves, saffron, and cinnamon to pot. Return lamb to pot and bring mixture to a boil. Cover and transfer to oven. Cook, turning halfway through, until meat is tender and falling off the bone, about 3 hours.
• Just before serving, bring salted water to a boil in a medium saute pan. Add okra and cook until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Remove lamb from pot and skim any fat. Return lamb to pot along with cooked okra. Gently stir to combine.
• Make the cilantro condiment: Combine cilantro, garlic, lemon zest, and oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon over lamb before serving.

BRAISED OKRA WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut top third off of garlic head and place on a piece of parchment-lined foil. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, and wrap in foil.
• Roast until soft, about 1 hour. Let cool, then squeeze out cloves; mash with a fork into a paste. (You should have 1 tablespoon; if more, reserve extra for another use.)
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; swirl in oil. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic paste and tomatoes; reduce heat to medium and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin to release some of their juices, about 8 minutes.
• Uncover and simmer 2 minutes more. Add okra; bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Serve over soft polenta with cheese, more oil, and pepper.

BRAISED BABY OKRA

Steps:

• 1. Wash and clean okra. Do not trim tops off.
• 2. Add okra,1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 cup water, optional clove of garlic, salt and fresh ground black pepper to a lidded pan, or skillet.
• 3. Turn heat to high. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, covered, shaking pan to keep from sticking. Until the pods are crisp-tender and still bright green. Watch so sauce does not dry up. DO NOT BROWN!
• 4. Put into a shallow serving bowl and drizzle with an additional tablespoon of EVOO. Toss to coat. Serve warm or at room temp.