Kardeas Okra Soup With Shrimp Recipes

LOWCOUNTRY OKRA AND SHRIMP KEBABS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat.
• Thread the shrimp, sausage, tomatoes and okra onto 4 skewers. Set aside in the refrigerator while the grill gets hot.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan on medium-low heat on the stovetop, then add the garlic powder, seafood seasoning, salt, pepper and lemon juice.
• Spray the grill grates with cooking spray. Place the skewers on the grill, then brush with the butter mixture and cook, turning once and brushing again, for 5 to 6 minutes total. Remove from the grill and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

OKRA SOUP WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Make the shrimp broth: Peel and devein the shrimp; refrigerate the shrimp for the soup. Clean the shrimp shells under cold water, then transfer to a large pot. Add the carrots, celery, onions, butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the bay leaf and 10 cups water. Bring to a boil and cook 5 minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 45 minutes, making sure to skim off and discard any impurities that rise to the top. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve. You will need 3 cups of the broth for the soup; reserve the rest for another use.
• Make the okra soup: Heat a large gumbo pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, garlic, onion, bell pepper and 1 tablespoon butter and cook, stirring, until the vegetables soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Next, add the corn, lima beans and plum tomatoes and mix. Add the canned tomatoes and reserved 3 cups shrimp broth; stir, cover, bring to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes.
• While the soup is simmering, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the reserved shrimp and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the shrimp begin to turn pink, about 2 minutes per side. Add the okra, ground ginger and lemon juice and stir to mix; cook until the okra and shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Once the soup has simmered for 20 minutes, add the shrimp and okra mixture. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Stir the soup, then ladle into bowls or serve over rice.

RATATOUILLE WITH SHRIMP AND OKRA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a very large, deep skillet. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash and season with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in the thyme, tomatoes and bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the tomatoes begin to burst, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon olive oil in a separate large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the shrimp and okra and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook until the shrimp turns pink and is cooked through, about 6 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. (This removes the "slime" from the okra.)
• Add the shrimp, okra and basil to the vegetables. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaf, then sprinkle with additional basil before serving, if desired.