Pan Seared Okra With Bacon Recipes

MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN'S ROASTED OKRA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Rinse the okra, and drain on a kitchen towel. The okra should be dry. Trim away the stem ends and the tips, just the very ends, and then place the okra in a large bowl. Salt to taste, and toss with the olive oil until coated.
• Lift the okra from the bowl, leaving behind any excess oil. Place on a sheet pan in one layer. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes (large okra might take a little longer), shaking the pan every five minutes. The okra should be lightly browned and tender, with a nice seared aroma. If you don't want it to brown as much, set the oven at 400 degrees.
• Remove from the heat, toss with fresh thyme, if desired, and freshly ground pepper. Transfer to a platter. Serve hot.

OKRA, TOMATOES, AND BACON

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Crumble bacon into a bowl.
• Add onion and garlic to skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add hot pepper and cook until tender, about 3 minutes more. Add drained tomatoes; season with thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook 5 minutes more.
• Add okra and enough reserved juice from tomatoes to cover. Simmer, covered, until okra is tender, about 15 minutes.

OKRA SALAD

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until evenly browned, then remove to paper towels to drain. Pour off most of the bacon grease, leaving a thin coating on the pan. Add okra to the bacon grease in the skillet, and fry until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the okra to a salad bowl, and toss with the onion, green pepper, and tomato. Crumble in the bacon.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, corn oil, and vinegar until the sugar has dissolved. Pour over the salad, and toss to coat. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.