The Whole Okra

gdaddybill · June 20, 2019

Just got my copy of Chris Smith's new book--THE WHOLE OKRA from Sow True Seeds. It's very in depth with variety photos and more ways to use okra than I could have imagined. Very clever and beautifully done!

Worth1 · June 20, 2019

Maybe you can share some of it with us.
Thanks.

gdaddybill · June 21, 2019

There's a lot to read. I really enjoy reading about the varieties and many of the recipes look delicious (nice photography and an extensive chart of varieties with comments on taste, origin, etc.) Some of the recipes like okra tofu may be slow to see the light of day at our house but who knows I get a little crazy sometimes.

I'll try to make note of some highlights as I browse through it.

Ken B · June 23, 2019

Yeah, it's great! Chris is a very engaging writer, really recommend it.

chrismith82 · June 24, 2019

I had lots of fun researching and writing, The Whole Okra. I hope you enjoy it!

gdaddybill · June 25, 2019

I'm working my way through the recipes (Worth, there's a section on fermentation) and waiting for the okra to put out more than a handful a day.

chrismith82 · June 25, 2019

I highly recommend the Okra Kimchi recipe! If you want to try it before buying the book then here's a link: Okra Kimchi

My okra is budding, but no production yet. Still enjoying the dried okra from last year though!

Worth1 · June 25, 2019

Thanks.

habitat_gardener · July 2, 2019

Dried okra! Sounds interesting. And dried kimchi!

chrismith82 · July 2, 2019

Dried okra is a great way to store the harvest (okra produces a lot of okra!). It also concentrates the flavors. 2lbs of okra reduces to about 4oz of dried okra!

Worth1 · July 2, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismith82

Dried okra is a great way to store the harvest (okra produces a lot of okra!). It also concentrates the flavors. 2lbs of okra reduces to about 4oz of dried okra!

I dried some in the dark years ago, the color stayed green and it was fantastic in many ways.
I also have some in the freezer "freeze dried" sort of, that seems to be fine also when I cook it.
I honestly ran out of bags and just tossed it in the big freezer as an experiment..

Worth1 · July 28, 2019

I have a question about pickled okra.

The other day a guy at work ate a whole jar of store bought pickled okra.
Every okra he ate he bit of the stem end and threw it away.
I was flabbergasted he just didn't eat the whole thing.
I didn't say anything to him though.

If the pod snaps of the plant it is more than tender enough to eat.
Now am I the only one that eats the tender stem ends on okra pickled or otherwise?

chrismith82 · August 29, 2019

I eat the stems too! They are generally crunchier, but good. I have noticed that a spineless pod can have a spiny stem though...

Hensaplenty · July 28, 2019

I would love to hear recommendations on your favorite OP varieties of okra and why they are your favorite. Thx!

Worth1 · July 28, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hensaplenty

I would love to hear recommendations on your favorite OP varieties of okra and why they are your favorite. Thx!

For me they are Long Pod Green Cow Horn and Louisiana Green Velvet, to name a few.
Reason is if they are fertilized and watered properly they get big without getting tough.
Okra loves, fertilizer, heat and water
Lots of water.
I haven't grown okra in awhile because I still have some in the freezer.

June 20, 2019	#1
gdaddybill Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Burton, TX Posts: 294	The Whole Okra Just got my copy of Chris Smith's new book--THE WHOLE OKRA from Sow True Seeds. It's very in depth with variety photos and more ways to use okra than I could have imagined. Very clever and beautifully done!

June 24, 2019	#5
chrismith82 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 10	The Whole Okra! I had lots of fun researching and writing, The Whole Okra. I hope you enjoy it!

June 25, 2019	#7
chrismith82 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 10	Okra Kimchi I highly recommend the Okra Kimchi recipe! If you want to try it before buying the book then here's a link: Okra Kimchi My okra is budding, but no production yet. Still enjoying the dried okra from last year though!

July 2, 2019	#10
chrismith82 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 10	Dried Okra Dried okra is a great way to store the harvest (okra produces a lot of okra!). It also concentrates the flavors. 2lbs of okra reduces to about 4oz of dried okra!

July 28, 2019	#12
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Okra Question????? I have a question about pickled okra. The other day a guy at work ate a whole jar of store bought pickled okra. Every okra he ate he bit of the stem end and threw it away. I was flabbergasted he just didn't eat the whole thing. I didn't say anything to him though. If the pod snaps of the plant it is more than tender enough to eat. Now am I the only one that eats the tender stem ends on okra pickled or otherwise?

June 21, 2019	#3
gdaddybill Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Burton, TX Posts: 294	There's a lot to read. I really enjoy reading about the varieties and many of the recipes look delicious (nice photography and an extensive chart of varieties with comments on taste, origin, etc.) Some of the recipes like okra tofu may be slow to see the light of day at our house but who knows I get a little crazy sometimes. I'll try to make note of some highlights as I browse through it.

June 23, 2019	#4
Ken B Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central Virginia Posts: 243	Yeah, it's great! Chris is a very engaging writer, really recommend it.

July 2, 2019	#9
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Dried okra! Sounds interesting. And dried kimchi!

August 29, 2019	#13
chrismith82 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 10	I eat the stems too! They are generally crunchier, but good. I have noticed that a spineless pod can have a spiny stem though... __________________ Author of The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration \| Executive Director of The Utopian Seed Project

July 28, 2019	#14
Hensaplenty Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 122	I would love to hear recommendations on your favorite OP varieties of okra and why they are your favorite. Thx!