Okra is in season! We’ve been noticing some beautiful okra in our local grocery stores lately. But what does one do with this slimy green veggie? First of all, you should know that okra is a nutritious food with many health benefits. It's rich in magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, K1, and A. Okra maybenefit pregnant women, heart health, and blood sugar control.
You can batter and fry okra, sauté it, or even throw it on the grill. Whenever I think of cooking okra, I think of making a mean gumbo or some type of creole soup. But the weather’s not quite cold enough for that. I adapted this Southern Living recipe I found to create these delicious Okra Shrimp Beignets that ended up being a wonderful crispy and savory midday treat for my family.
Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients:
- Peanut oil
- 2 cups sliced fresh okra
- ½ green bell pepper, dinced
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
- ¾ tsp seasoned salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
- ½ lb medium-size raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped
1. Pour oil to a depth of 3 inches in a Dutch oven or skillet; heat to 350 degrees.
2. Stir together okra and next 8 ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Stir in shrimp.
3. Drop batter by rounded tablespoons into hot oil, and fry, in batches, 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
4. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels.
5. Serve with pico de gallo or Cilantro Sour Cream (Stir together 1 8 oz container of sour cream, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tsp lime zest, 1 tsp fresh lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste.).
