Okra Hot Fries

Name: Okra Hot Fries
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 3 to 4 servings
Cuisine: American-Southern-Soul Food
Ingredients: 20 to 25 medium to large okra pods, sliced lengthwise; 3 Tbs. olive oil; 1 tsp. garlic powder; 1 tsp. onion powder; 1 tsp. salt; 1/4 tsp. celery seed; 1 tsp. Taj&#237;n Cl&#225;sico seasoning (optional); 3/4 cup (6 oz./180 g) mayonnaise; 1/4 cup (2 oz./60 g) sour cream; 1 Tbs. pesto; Pinch of salt; 1 cup (7 1/2 oz./240 g) mayonnaise; 1 tsp. granulated garlic; 1/4 tsp. garlic powder; Pinch of salt; 1 cup (7 1/2 oz./240 g) mayonnaise; 3 Tbs. sriracha; 1 Tbs. barbecue sauce; 1 cup (7 1/2 oz./240 g) mayonnaise; 1 tsp. honey; 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper; Pinch of smoked paprika; Pinch of salt

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 3 to 4

This simple vegetable dish from chef and restaurateur Kelsey Barnard Clark is a big hit with her husband, Deavours, and her young son, Monroe. “The first time I made these, they were supposed to be the side dish for pork tenderloin and salad,” Clark explains. “But when they came out of the oven, Deavours, Monroe, and I devoured them before they ever touched a plate. Monroe exclaimed, ‘Hot fries!’ while he ate them—they were that good.” A perfect finger food for a Kentucky Derby party, this recipe and its accompanying “cheat” sauces are included in Clark’s new cookbook, Southern Grit.

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Ingredients:

20 to 25 medium to large okra pods, sliced lengthwise
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. Tajín Clásico seasoning (optional)

Cheat Sauces

Herb Cheat Sauce:

3/4 cup (6 oz./180 g) mayonnaise
1/4 cup (2 oz./60 g) sour cream
1 Tbs. pesto
Pinch of salt

Garlic Cheat Sauce:

1 cup (7 1/2 oz./240 g) mayonnaise
1 tsp. granulated garlic
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Pinch of salt

Sriracha Cheat Sauce:

1 cup (7 1/2 oz./240 g) mayonnaise
3 Tbs. sriracha
1 Tbs. barbecue sauce

Hot Honey Cheat Sauce:

1 cup (7 1/2 oz./240 g) mayonnaise
1 tsp. honey
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
Pinch of smoked paprika
Pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). In a medium mixing bowl, toss the okra with the oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, celery seed, and Tajín, if using. On a sheet pan (or two) lined with parchment paper, space the okra out in a single layer without touching. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. They should be brown and crispy. Serve warm as a snack or side dish with any of the cheat sauces (just mix the ingredients together). Serves 3 to 4.

Adapted from Southern Grit by Kelsey Barnard Clark (Chronicle Books, 2021).