Where’s the okra?

I have an okra failure. That’s right, it looks like I will not be growing okra this year. I haven’t entirely given up, but it isn’t looking good. For too many reasons to go into, my okra starts are not taking. Today I will be attempting to remedy the situation, but if this doesn’t work I’ll have to go to Plan B – buying/bartering from local growers. I don’t mind this option, but I haven’t found a local source for my beloved Silver Queen.

I’ll counter my negative announcement with two okra recipes:

Pickled Okra (excerpted from Canning for the Really, Really Free Market)
3 qt. water
1 qt. pickling vinegar
1 c. canning salt
Dill seeds
Onions, slicedCanning for the Really, Really Free Market
Garlic, sliced
Jalapeno peppers

Heat water, vinegar and salt to boiling stage. Wash, wipe and pack raw okra into canning jars. Add a few slices of onion, garlic, 1 teaspoon dill seeds and 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers in each jar. Pour boiling mixture over okra and seal jars. Place jars in pot and add enough water to cover the jars. Bring to a slow boil, turn heat very low, and let cook for 1 hour. Turn heat off and allow jars to cool in pot before removing. Unused prepared mixture can be kept for later use.

Easy Okra (from VegWeb)

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 pound okra
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 medium onion
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4-5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and chopped finely
salt, to taste
jalapeno, to taste, optional
pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Cut both ends off each okra, and then cut them in two halves longitudinally.  Mix them with lime juice in a bowl. Cut peeled onion into two halves then each half into longitudinal slices.

2. Put the oil in a sauce pan , add chopped garlic and ginger and fry for 1 minute. Add onion. Fry all these together until onion becomes very light brown (4-5 minutes).

3. Stir in okra mixture.  Sprinkle salt to taste, and add chopped jalapeno (if using).

4. Cook for 8-10 minutes, but stir after every 1-2 minute until okra is tender. Sprinkle freshly ground pepper on top.

Serve as side dish or with vegan bread.

Serves: 4, Preparation time: 15 minutes