Okra Salad With Toasted Cumin Food

OKRA SALAD WITH TOASTED CUMIN

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Put cumin, coriander and caraway seeds in a small dry skillet over medium-high heat. Shake pan and toast seeds until fragrant and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Let seeds cool, then grind to a coarse powder in a mortar or electric spice mill. Transfer to a small bowl and add paprika and cayenne. Whisk in olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bring a large saucepan of well-salted water to a boil. Add okra and cook for 2 minutes, until firm-tender. Drain and rinse with cool water, then blot with a kitchen towel. Set aside.
• To serve, place okra in a serving bowl. Season lightly with salt and toss with dressing. (Leave to marinate for up to 1 hour if desired.) Garnish with olives, chopped cilantro and some cilantro sprigs.

OKRA SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic. Drizzle in the olive oil in a thin stream, whisking constantly, until it is completely emulsified. Stir in the onion and Tabasco.
• In a large saucepan, bring a generous amount of water to the boil. Plunge in the okra and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
• In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in the okra and sear it, tossing frequently, for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until golden. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
• Arrange the lettuce leaves in a large serving bowl and scatter the okra on top. Pour the dressing over, toss together and scatter the red pepper julienne on top.

SAUTEED OKRA WITH CUMIN

Steps:

• Melt butter over high heat in a medium saute pan. Saute okra with all seasoning 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring occasionally, an additional 5 minutes. Serve hot.

CHARRED OKRA SALAD WITH GARLICKY YOGURT

Steps:

• Squeeze the juice of half a lime into a bowl and add the red onion slices, then stir in honey, a large pinch each of salt and pepper, and cayenne. Let sit at room temperature while preparing the other ingredients (or for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to meld). Stir occasionally. Before serving, taste and add more salt or squeeze in more lime juice, if you like.
• Heat the broiler and line a sheet pan with foil. Add okra to the pan, drizzle with enough oil to coat the pods and sprinkle with salt, tossing well. Arrange okra into one layer. Broil until tender and charred, 5 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with cumin right out of the oven while still hot. Taste and add more salt or cumin, if you like. Let cool slightly.
• While the okra broils, make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine yogurt, garlic and a squeeze or two of lime juice. Slowly whisk in 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil until the dressing has the texture of heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine lettuce, arugula, herbs, cucumber and tomato. Season to taste with a squeeze of lime juice, a little more olive oil to coat the vegetables, and salt and pepper, tossing well.
• To serve, place salad on individual plates. Top with okra. Drizzle with yogurt dressing, and garnish with some of the cayenne onions. Serve immediately.

OKRA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the first 5 ingredients, and stir well.
• Blanch okra in boiling water 3 minutes.
• Drain.
• Combine warm okra, onion, and garlic in a 12x8x2-inch dish.
• Pour vinaigrette over okra mixture; toss gently to coat.
• Marinate at least 2 hours; drain.
• Arrange on serving plate with tomato slices; if desired.