Okra Salad

Here is the recipe that I promised to post that involves fresh, okra and summer tomatoes.

Trust me, when I say that this will become a recipe that you look forward to each

Summer.  It is very basic, but SOOOOO delicious!!!  Best of all, it is very easy.

So let's get started:

Ingredients:

Chilled presentation dish

Home grown tomatoes

Red Onion

Okra

Yellow Cornmeal

Hot Oil
Salt

The first step is one of the most important step.

The very first thing that I do is chill a presentation dish or bowl in the refrigerator.

Have you ever had a salad when eating out that came to your table in a chilled bowl?
It makes for a much more enjoyable salad, don't you think?  This is the same concept
with this dish.

Next, dice a couple of tomatoes or more if making this for a large group.  Use your

judgement on the amount.  There is no exact science on the measurement of this

recipe.  Just create the amount based on the number of people you are feeding.

Also, dice a red onion.  Layer the diced onion on the bottom of the "chilled"

dish (I like to use a glass pie dish) and then top with the diced tomatoes.

Put the dish back into the refrigerator.

Next, prep your okra and coat with "yellow cornmeal".

Heat your oil.  It is important that the oil be hot!  Use a test piece of okra first.

Once your oil is hot, add the rest of the okra and fry it until, it is quite brown.

My family prefers it on the browner side.

Once the okra is quite brown, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towel to drain.

Then, while the okra is still hot, layer it over the chilled tomatoes and onions.

Serve immediately, while the okra is still hot!

I have two tips that MAKE this dish. 

1.)  The okra needs quite a bit of salt to contrast with the sweetness of the tomato and onion.

2.) And this is probably the most important step!  Serve, immediately after the okra is done!

See, so easy!  I just can't describe to you how wonderful this dish is! 

All I can say is that the saltiness, sweetness, hot and cold contrast and burst of summer flavors are addictive!

"It's Time Has Come" to enjoy this Summer recipe!

Let me know by comment if you tried this and if you liked it!

XOXOXOXO

Sandra