Cajun Okra Fries

Shallow fried crispy okra sprinkled liberally with Cajun seasonings make a great appetizer or snack for all your game watching get-togethers. Or frankly, any party situation. Or movie night. Or Mardi Gras! 

There are only three ways I’ll eat okra. Spicy and pickled is my absolute favorite and if I can’t get Talk o' Texas brand, I’ve been known to pickle my own. Second best is sliced up, coated with cornmeal and deep-fried till crunchy. I can pop those little golden nuggets like most people eat popcorn. Third best is in a gumbo or stew, cooked down till you don’t really see the okra anymore, but the flavor is still there. And that’s been it for my whole lifetime. Until this week.

Last year for my birthday, I received a subscription to Delicious. magazine online, which I have truly enjoyed. In one of the recent issues, they shared a recipe for okra that was deep-fried then sprinkled with an Indian spice mix that sounded good, if I could find all the ingredients.  I immediately thought of my ready-in-the-shaker Cajun spices – already in my cupboard and so much easier! Okra and anything Cajun just go together naturally too.

This week my Sunday Supper group is sharing recipes that are great for football championship watching parties. Over here in Dubai, we don’t hear much about it, but I know the airwaves and newspapers in the United States are full of information overload about the upcoming Super Bowl. But one can never have too much good food, am I right? So make sure you scroll down to the bottom and check out our link list of tasty big game party recipes!

This is the last group post and celebration of National Sunday Supper Month so our participant list is huge!  Many thanks to our host for this wonderful event, T.R. of Gluten-free Crumbley. If you haven't signed the Sunday Supper pledge to spend more time around the family table in 2016, there's still time! Just click on this link and take the pledge. You will not regret it!

I’ve got to tell you that my husband is not a fan of okra so I thought I would get to eat this whole batch by myself. He came home from work a little early the day I was making these okra fries and ended up eating most of them while I wrote up the recipe. What a bittersweet victory for this okra lover! Never mind. Next time I will double the amount because, I can assure you, there will definitely be a next time.

Adapted from this recipe at Delicious.

Ingredients
12 oz or 340g tender young okra
Canola or other light oil for frying
Cajun seasonings

Method
Wash the okra and dry them thoroughly.

Use a sharp knife to cut off the stem end and then slice the okra in half lengthwise.

Lay the pieces cut side down on a bed of paper towels and leave to dry for at least three hours.

This step can even be done a day ahead. After the okra have dried for a couple of hours, roll them up in the paper towels, wrap with cling film and refrigerate in the vegetable drawer till you are ready to fry.

When you are ready to fry them, lay out a single layer of paper towels on some sheets of newspaper and put it near your frying station. But not so close that you are going to catch it on fire, please. Have the Cajun spices standing by as well.

Heat about an inch or 2.5cm of oil in a large frying pan, over a medium flame.

Test the heat of the oil by putting one slice of okra in. If it sizzles vigorously, the oil is hot enough.

Lower the okra slices gently into the oil, in small batches, making sure not to splash and not to crowd the pan.

Fry for a few minutes on the first side then use some tongs to turn them over to brown the other side. The okra is done when both sides are golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side.

Remove from the oil and place on the paper towels to drain. Sprinkle immediately with the Cajun seasonings.

Continue frying the okra slices in batches until all are golden and crispy, then well seasoned.

Enjoy!

Are you looking for game day party food inspiration? We’ve got a bunch of winners for you, no matter if your home team is playing!

Appetizers and Sides

• Atomic Buffalo Turds by Wholistic Woman
• Avocado Egg Rolls by My Imperfect Kitchen
• Bacon Wrapped Potato Wedges by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
• Buttermilk Battered Chicken Wings by Crazy Foodie Stunts
• Cajun Okra Fries by Food Lust People Love
• Cheddar Sausage Balls by Tramplingrose
• Cheese Board and Baguettes Make for the Start of a Great Game Day Feast by Delaware Girl Eats
• Cheesy Crabmeat Canapés by Meal Planning Magic
• Cheesy Sausage Dip by The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Chicken Fajita Nachos by Sweet Mornings
• Chipotle-Ranch Chicken Wings by Casa de Crews
• Corn Dog Muffins by Noshing With The Nolands
• Crock-Pot Bean Dip by Confessions of a Cooking Diva
• Deep Fried Pimento Cheese and Celery Bites by Granny’s Down Home Sassy Southern Cooking
• Dill Pickle Dip by Seduction in the Kitchen
• Fish Taquitos by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
• Gluten Free Asian Sweet Chili Wings by Flippin’ Delicious
• Healthy Guacamole Recipe by Real Food Real Deals
• Hogs in a blanket by Cooking on the Ranch
• Hot Pork Roll and Cheese Dip by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Nacho Waffle Fries by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Patatas Pobres for a Crowd by Lydia’s Flexitarian Kitchen
• Pepperoni Pizza Bites by Family Foodie
• Philly Cheesesteak Sliders by Daily Dish Recipes
• Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates by The Healthy Fit Foodie
• Rajas by Pook’s Pantry
• Roasted Broccoli Artichoke Dip by Cooking Chat
• Slow Cooker Thai Wings by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Smoky Blender Salsa by What Smells So Good?
• Southwestern Eggroll Cups by A Gouda Life
• Southwestern Flatbread and a “Design Your Own Flatbread” Table by The Freshman Cook
• Spicy Szechuan Shrimp Lettuce Cups by Palatable Pastime
• Sweet and Spicy Hummus by Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
• Texas Caviar by Books n’ Cooks
• Tex-Mex Egg Rolls by Cookin’ Mimi
• Thai Beef Taco Bites by Brunch-n-Bites
• Three Cheese Macaroni Bites by Tara’s Multicultural Table

Main Dishes

• BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders With Tangy Warm Cabbage Slaw by Taste And See
• Buffalo Chicken Chili by Monica’s Table
• Cheeseburger Pizza by Life Tastes Good
• Cheesy Cheesesteaks by Family Around The Table
• Emeril’s Chicken and Andouille Gumbo by The Texan New Yorker
• Game Day Chili by Our Good Life
• Handy Beef Buns by Get the Good Stuff
• Lahmacun – Turkish flatbread by Caroline’s Cooking
• New Jersey Sloppy Joe by kimchi MOM
• Pizza Pasta Bake by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pork Italiano Sandwich by The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine
• Puerto Rican Pernil (Garlic Roast Pork) by Curious Cuisiniere
• Ree’s Philly Cheesesteaks by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Cheese Bombers by Kitchen Gidget
• Spicy Tuna Croquette Sliders with Avocado Pesto by The Crumby Cupcake

Desserts and Drinks

• Chocolate Football Cookies by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Cinnamon Sugar Chex Mix by Pies and Plots
• Game Day Mocktails by Beauty and the Beets
• Gluten Free Football Potato Candy by Gluten Free Crumbley
• S’more Poutine by Desserts Required
• Super Duper Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn by Only Taste Matters




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