Buy Local Challenge

FRENCH FRIED OKRA WITH ARTISANAL KETCHUP

July 8th, 2008

FRIED OKRA

Ingredients needed:

• 1/2 cup local buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons hot sauce
• 2 local eggs
• 32 local okra pods, washed and cut in 1/2 lengthwise
• Salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• Creole seasoning from scratch
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Tomato Marmalade

In a mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, hot sauce and eggs. Mix well. Add the okra and season with the salt and turn to coat evenly, and let sit for 30 minutes. In another mixing bowl, combine the flour and corn meal. Mix well and season with the Essence. Heat the oil in a large skillet to 360 degrees F.

Dredge each piece of okra in the seasoned flour coating completely. Fry the okra in batches for about 2 to 3 minutes, turning once to evenly brown. Remove the cooked okra, and drain on a paper-lined sheet pan. Sprinkle some Essence over the cooked okra. Continue to cook the okra in batches until all the okra is cooked. Serve while hot with the Tomato Marmalade.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

TOMATO MARMALADE
Ingredients needed:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced local garlic
• 1 cup julienned local yellow onion
• 6 large local tomatoes, quartered
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1/2 to 1 cup fresh orange juice, from 1 to 2 oranges
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and fresh ground black pepper

In a sauté pan, heat the olive over medium high heat oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and onions and sauté until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste to the pan and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until most of the moisture has been cooked out of the tomatoes. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until the liquid is reduced by 2/3, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and serve the marmalade in a heat-proof container either warm or room temperature.

Yield: a generous 2 cups

Entry Filed under: Recipes