How To Prepare Fresh Okra (bamia) Before Cooking

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vinegar (greeks use red wine vinegar which is not halal)
• 1 lb fresh okra
• 2 tablespoons oil (if freezing) or 8 cups boiling water

Recipe

• 1 wash well handling gently.
• 2 trim stem end without cutting into pod.
• 3 trim around top of stem attached to pod, removing a thin layer.
• 4 remove fuzz under running water by rubbing pod gently with a nylon scourer. if okra is young there is no need to do this.
• 5 spread out and leave until dry.
• 6 place in a bowl and pour on vinigar tossing gently so that vinegar coats okra.
• 7 leave for 30 minutes.
• 8 drain and rinse well.
• 9 dry and use as directed in recipes.
• 10 to freeze.
• 11 method 1.
• 12 prepare as above and dry.
• 13 in a deep pan heat oil and fry okra for 5 miutes, tossing gently with a wooden spoon.
• 14 cool and put into freezer bags, expel air, seal and label. pack into freezer.
• 15 method 2.
• 16 prepare as above.
• 17 bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• 18 have a bowl of ice water ready.
• 19 place prepared okra into a frying basket and lower into boiling water.
• 20 boil for 3 miutes, timed from when the water returns to a boil.
• 21 lift out and place in ice water for 3 minutes.
• 22 drain well, put into freezer bags, expel air, seal and label. pack into freezer.