Stewed (Smothered) Okra

Delicious served by itself, or used in a gumbo.

Recipe Ingredients:

• 3 pounds fresh or frozen okra
• 3 tbsp canola oil
• 1 cup chopped onion or 1 large onion
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 (16 oz) can whole tomatoes or 1/2 pound fresh chopped tomatoes or 1 can Rotel brand tomatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce (optional)
  

Directions:

1. Wash fresh okra. Remove stems and cut okra into 1/2 inch rounds.
2. In a heavy saucepan or Magnalite cookware, cook the okra, onions, tomatoes in the oil over medium low heat stirring continually for about 45 minutes to 2 hours (depending on the amount you are cooking) until the okra is no longer slimy and has achieved a light greenish brown color. Don't forget to stir, stir, stir to prevent sticking and burning.
3. Do not use cast iron as the acid in the okra will remove the seasonings in your cast iron pot. Also never warm up any okra dish in a cast iron pot.
4. Check your seasonings and serve as a vegetable side dish, with rice and gravy or make the okra and shrimp gumbo. Cei cest bon!

Serves 4.