Okra – it’s one of those southern foods that you love, hate or have to ask someone, “What is okra?” There is no middle ground!
My husband despises it in any shape or form. I happen to be in love with okra. I’ve never liked harvesting it by cutting it from the stalk. Boy, does it itch. But I adore okra sliced, dipped in seasoned cornmeal mix and fried crispy brown. I also happen to like it boiled in a pot of freshly picked peas. I know it’s slimy, but hey, I like it. Period.
But I’ve never had smashed fried okra! It’s whole okra pods, smashed with a meat mallet, dipped in buttermilk, seasoned cornmeal and fried. So I had to try it.
I haven’t seen my meat mallet since my kids were small and I caught them outside making mud pies with said meat mallet. So I improvised by using my small hammer wrapped up in a freezer bag. Don’t judge me. It worked beautifully!
When I added the Kosher salt and pepper, I also sprinkled in a little cayenne pepper and garlic powder to give it a little extra kick. I’m a little extra kick kind of person!
Was it a hit or a miss?
I insisted that my husband take one bite – just one! He said it was OK and would be better if it didn’t have seeds in it. (Note to hubby: Then it wouldn’t be okra, would it?)
My daughter declared that it was high end upscale restaurant quality and would be amazing served as an appetizer with homemade ranch dressing or a spicy dip! It’s a definite keeper. (If it’s restaurant quality, does that make me a chef???)
I absolutely loved it! I’ll never slice okra again! Well, maybe every once in a while. What a time saver that I had never thought of! It’s crunchy, spicy, and a little soft in the middle. It’s the perfect appetizer or side dish and I’ll definitely make it again. And again. And again.
It was a big hit and my husband needs to learn to eat his veggies! 🙂
You can find the recipe here or on page 101 of the June 2014 Southern Living magazine!
Do you eat okra? If so, how do you like your’s cooked?
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About Alli
You are definitely a chef and I am making smashed okra as soon as we grow some in the garden! Thanks for letting me know it’s an itchy plant to pick. We are new to “farming” and I need all the tips I can get! 😉
~ Ashley
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My parents always had a huge garden (still do) when I was growing up and I hated picking okra! But I’ve always loved the taste of it! You can’t let it get too big because the bigger it gets the more tougher it gets and becomes unedible. 🙂
I’m just ok with fried okra but not going to eat it any other way. Someone else has to fry it though 🙂 I do like to put okra in my homemade vegetable soup and don’t mind, maybe all of the boiling makes the slime go away.LoL
I Pinned this to my Good Eats board for others to see.
Shirley Wood recently posted…Wake Up Wednesday Linky & A Giveaway
Fried okra is one of those foods (like fried oysters) that has to be eaten as soon as it’s cooked. I don’t like it cold at all.
My husband would absolutely love this.
Carmody recently posted…Latitude and Longitude DIY Doormat
Let me know if you make it and if your husband likes it.
The Smith House loves fried okra, so this is a MUST TRY for me– looks great 🙂
Mitzi recently posted…The Best Of Father’s Day Roundup
I just can’t believe I’ve never thought about doing it like this – so much easier.
This looks so good! We love fried okra in our house!
Logan Cantrell recently posted…Dreaming of the Weekend in BoHo
Yes! An okra loving family!
I live in Georgia, so I should say that I eat Okra all of the time, but that’s not the truth. This looks simple enough! I love the taste of it, so I’m going to give it a try!
Christine recently posted…May Beauty Favorites
So, so easy!
This would be a miss for me since I don’t like okra and fried foods but Mr. M would love this so it would be a hit for him!
Louida recently posted…What to Do with Your Pets While on Vacation (Summer Blog Series)
I don’t normally eat fried foods, Louida, but every once in a while I have to eat a little fried okra . . .:)
I love fried okra! Even my husband who doesn’t like green veggies will eat fried okra dipped in horsey sauce! I’m going to have to try this recipe.
Paris (My Big Fat Happy Life) recently posted…Kids Academy Preschool and Kindergarten App Review
Oh, yeah! Dipping sauce makes everything better!
Miss with me, but my parents would enjoy this recipe! I’m a firm okra-hater XD
RaCh recently posted…Tutorial Tuesday: (Grow Your Own Crystal) Necklace
You and my husband would get along just fine. He hates it, too!
This is………….amazing and so interesting! I am in awe and will pin and will try this.. BTW.. your pics look much better than the original okra link… My great aunt grew okra and I LOVED going out and picking some and taking it home.. Oh ya…
aimee fauci recently posted…‘Finish This’ Week 23
Why, you’re my new BFF, Aimee! I never knew to just smash the heck out of it, batter and fry it. 🙂
Hmmm…I don’t know about this. I love fried okra so the next time you make this I’ll try it. Did the boys try it? Lol
I made it late Sunday afternoon, Rebekah! I figured they would turn their nose up at it. 🙂
I’ve never actually tried Okra, however I have had several people recommend it to me and I’ve considered growing it (good to know that it’s itchy to pick and I have to get it while it’s small). This looks like something I should try.
I’d love for you to share it at The Weekend Social on Thursday at 9pm EST at http://www.thequestionablehomesteader.com
Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader recently posted…100 Happy Days – Week 1
I’ll be more than happy to share! I’ve had the grands all week, but tomorrow they will be going back home. I’ll need a party! 🙂
Alli this looks AWESOME! Are you available for parties? 🙂 I love okra! Or fried zucchini? Goodness! Anything friend is a great idea 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
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Neatly-Packaged recently posted…Wicked Pinterest Finds: Honeymoon in Paris!
I’ll be right over! I try not to eat fried foods very often, but I mean, really? A southerner has to eat something fried once or twice a year.
Now this looks like a great idea! I can’t eat anything fried like this, but my hubby would LOVE it! I’ll have to give it a try for him!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication recently posted…On the Road in May
Kristen, I don’t normally eat fried foods at all, but I have to take one for the team every once in a while on my Hit or Miss! 🙂
I admit: I have never tried okra! You have inspired me though
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Let me know if you like it!
I am one of those who has to ask “What is okra?”. Even though I know what it is, but have never tried one. It is a warm weather crop (a thing for the south), so I figured that I better do not like okra otherwise I would have to grow it in my already overcrowded greenhouse. But you make me curious to try, looks so yummy!
It is yummy, Anna and I’ve been eating it as long as I can remember. It can be bought frozen, but fresh it always better!
These looks AMAZING! I love ocra fried – but I am with your husband I could do without the seeds! I love the idea of adding garlic powder and spicing it up a bit – these do indeed look like the perfect app! Gorgeous gorrrrgeous pics! The plate is so cool.
Madaline recently posted…An Excuse for Pastry & Aperitivo
The okra was very tasty and the smashing was fun, too!
I love okra!!! I never wanted to try okra whole because it’s always been boiled/stewed. I’m sure I will love the fried, whole okra. I’ll definitely be trying this soon…and no judgement, I’ll be taking the same route to smash my okra! 🙂
Artney recently posted…The Perfect Tortilla! My Salad Life Has Been Changed.
Glad I’m not the only one without a meat mallet! 🙂
I love okra– I actually like mine with stewed tomatoes and served over rice. This looks yummy!
Prototype Mama recently posted…50 Inexpensive Summer Activities for kids
Oh, yeah, I love it that way, too and in vegetable soup.
I love fried okra! I’ve never had it smashed, but can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the recipe!!
It was kinda fun smashing that okra with the hammer.
I need to make this for my Nonnie! She loves okra!
Kristin recently posted…Day to Night Summer Looks from Kohl’s
That would be so sweet!
Still have to make this.
Thanks for sharing at The Weekend Social, I’m looking forward to seeing you again next Thursday at 9pm EST at http://www.thequestionablehomesteader.com for another installment of The Weekend Social.
Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader recently posted…100 Happy Days – Week 2
I have never had okra, but I’m sure I would love it if it’s fried and has ranch dressing! 😉 It looks like an appetizer from a restaurant, so yes, you are a chef!
Lisa @ Cooking with Curls recently posted…Turkey on Ciabatta with Sun-dried Tomato Aioli
Thanks for the vote of confidence! You must try okra one of these days! It’s so good (at least to me – the hubs hates it). 🙂