This crispy-soft Creole Okra Salad – Salad Lalo Kreol- is made with blanched okra or ladies fingers, tossed in an onion and lime dressing. It is a refreshing salad that is full of healthy goodness.
- 1 kg okra or ladies fingers, firm, tender and immature
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp salt for boiling water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and cracked pepper
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Peel onion and slice very thinly
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Transfer the sliced onion into a stainless bowl, add a squeeze of lime, a teaspoon of salt and about half a teaspoon of cracked pepper.
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Mix in the oil and massage the dressing with your fingers until the onion softens. Keep
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Once you have obtained your immature and firm okra pods, give them a good wash.
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Carefully trim extra long stem but do not cut the crown off. Leave your okra whole. Do not to cut into the seed chamber as the seeds may spill out
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Place enough water in a medium size pot, and add one teaspoon of salt. Have enough water to cover the okra and allow them to float freely, and bring to boil.
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Once water is boiling add okra and cook for 5 minutes, with a maximum of 6 minutes, or until desired tenderness is reached. If you overcook your okra, the nutrients may be destroyed, as well as the crunchiness. You want your okra to have a crispy-soft texture.
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Remove the okra from boiling liquid and place on a flat surface to allow to cool. Once cooled, transfer in a bowl and mix in the dressing and lightly toss the okra. Try and minimise the bruising of the okra. It should be served whole.
It is interesting to note that the viscosity or sliminess of the okra peaks at neutral to alkaline pH. Exposing it to an acidic ingredients, such as lime juice or vinegar or even tomatoes, tones the viscosity down.
You may decide to dip the okra in cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking. However, you will be adding the okra to too much moisture that could turn your salad mushy. If you decide to place your okra in cold water, do not keep them in water for too long and once cooled, transfer them on a cloth to soak away the moisture.