Ingredients

• 2 pounds young, small to medium okra pods
• 4 small dried chiles, split in 1/2
• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
• 12 sprigs fresh dill
• 4 cloves garlic, whole
• 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
• 1/4 cup kosher salt
• 2 cups rice wine vinegar
• 2 cups bottled water

Preparation

Wash the okra and trim the stem to 1/2-inch. Place 1 chile, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, 3 sprigs of dill, 1 clove of garlic and 1/4 teaspoon peppercorns in the bottom of each of 4 sterilized pint canning jars. Divide the okra evenly among the 4 jars, standing them up vertically, alternating stems up and down.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the salt, vinegar and water to a boil. Once boiling, pour this mixture over the okra in the jars, leaving space between the top of the liquid and the lid. Seal the lids. Set in a cool dry place for 2 weeks.

Alton Brown

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 pounds small okra
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup salted roasted cashews, chopped
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest, plus lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

In a large skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the okra, season with salt and pepper and cook over high heat, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic to the skillet and cook over moderate heat until softened and fragrant, 3 minutes. Stir in the cashews and lime zest. Transfer the okra to a platter, garnish with the lime wedges and serve.

Daniel Boulud, via Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 1 medium eggplant
• Salt
• 2 medium red onions
• 4 large garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, scrubbed, peeled if desired
• 1 1/2 pounds zucchini
• 2 large bell peppers, seeded
• 1/3 to 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, to taste
• 2 pounds tomatoes, grated or peeled, seeded and chopped, or a 28-ounce can, drained
• Black pepper
• 1/2 to 1 pound small okra, ends trimmed, optional
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped marjoram or oregano, or 2 teaspoons dried

Preparation

1. If the eggplant is thin and long, slice it about 1/4-inch thick. If it’s fat, halve it lengthwise, then slice in 1/4-inch-thick half-moons. Sprinkle with salt and put on paper towels for 30 minutes. Thinly slice the onions and mince the garlic. Cut the potatoes, zucchini and peppers into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Squeeze excess water from eggplant and pat dry.

2. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onions. Stir often, until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and stir in the garlic. Cook for another minute or two, until fragrant.

3. Lightly oil a deep earthenware baking dish or a heavy Dutch oven. Put the tomatoes in a bowl and season liberally with salt and pepper. Stir in the remaining olive oil. Spread a thin layer of tomatoes in the baking dish or Dutch oven and top with one-third of the onions and garlic. Top with half the potato slices. Season with salt and pepper. Layer half the zucchini slices over the potatoes and season, then layer on half the eggplant, half the peppers and half the okra, if using. Sprinkle on half the parsley, about a third of the marjoram or oregano and some pepper. Layer another third of the onions over the vegetables and top with half of the remaining tomatoes. Sprinkle with half the remaining marjoram or oregano. Repeat the layers with the remaining vegetables, ending with a layer of onions topped with the remaining tomatoes. Sprinkle with the remaining herbs. Pour the juice from the tomatoes over the mixture.

4. Cover with foil or a lid and bake for 1 1/2 hours. Press the vegetables down into the juice and bake another 30 minutes, or until all the vegetables are thoroughly tender. Cool until warm before serving, or refrigerate overnight and reheat. If there is too much liquid, strain in a colander set over a bowl, reduce the juices over medium-high heat (place a flame tamer over the burner if you’re using the earthenware dish) and pour over the vegetables.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings.

New York Times

Ingredients

• 1 box okra
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 lg. can tomatoes or 1-2 lg. fresh tomatoes
• dried basil or oregano (optional)

Preparation

Cut the stem tips off the okra (but don’t cut off the top of the pod)

Saute sliced onion in olive oil or butter until translucent.

Add chopped fresh or canned tomatoes.

Add okra, salt and pepper.

Add enough water to keep it from sticking.

Simmer until it looks like it’s supposed to. (Taste before done and if the tomatoes are too tart, add a pinch of sugar.)

If you want, you can and an herb of your choice. Oregano is good. Basil, too.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 1 pound tomatillos, husked, washed, quartered
• 3/4 pound okra, sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 2 large plum tomatoes, chopped
• 1 jalapeno, seeded, minced
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Preparation

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; add onion and turmeric. Cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add tomatillos and okra; cook over medium-high heat, stirring until browned and vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, jalapeno, ginger and water; season with salt. Simmer over low heat until okra is tender and most of liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Add cilantro.

Judy Hevrdejs, Tribune Newspapers