Friday, February 20, 2009

New Addiction

My wonderful bookkeeper, Rhonda J, found some okra chips at Fresh Market and brought them in to the office for everyone to share. BIG MISTAKE! I cant get enough of these things. I even looked for a recipe, but I can't find one. I did find out that they are "vacuum fried." Meaning they are deep fried and then the oil is sucked out of them. If someone could show me how to do this I would be really grateful.


After they are vacuum fried, packaged and shipped to your local Fresh Market, what you end up with are these wonderful, sort of crystallized okra pods that are crunchy and irresistible.




They look a little like thinly blown glass, but they have the flavor of traditional fried okra without the batter.


I think you can order them online from Fresh Market or you may be lucky enough to pick some up at your local location. I'm serious about someone showing me how to make these. I have got to have more and more and more okra chips!! Try them out and let me know what you think. WARNING: They are addictive!
SIDE NOTE:
Dear Food Network and the Travel Channel,
Where have your manners gone? Why is it that some of your hosts cannot take appropriate bites of food, chew with their mouths closed and not talk with a full mouth? My Mama would slap me, even today, if I did that. What kind of image is that sending to viewers? With all of the bad stuff going on in the world today the least we can do is use good manners. Taking huge bites of food does not make it taste any better. I don't want to see your food swirling around in your mouth while you are chewing and talking. That is the grossest thing ever. Andrew Zimmern, if I hear your jaw pop one more time I'm going to scream. Will someone please teach these people some manners?!!!
How do you feel about it?

11 comments:

  1. Glad they found something to do with okra, one of my least favorite vegetables.

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  2. Hello! Just found your blog while doing research on equipment to buy for my new restaurant. The search term "vacuum fried" brought me here. Unfortunately, you won't be able to vacuum fry at home unless you want to dedicate half your kitchen to the equipment and be willing to part with a few thousand dollars. In other words, it's commercial-grade only and a fairly complex design. Here's the Wiki:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_fryer

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  3. Thank you for the info. Guess I won't be making them any time soon :)

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  4. I'm discouraged to find this out, too. I buy okra chips at our local H.E.B "Central Market." and they are $11.00 a pound. I figured they had brined the okra in some miracle solution and dried it- the okra I've dried has been furry & leathery.

    They are addictive! The garlic chips they also sell- (look like corn pops and taste like carmelized garlic) are equally good. Thanks for a great site.

    John signalmessiah@hotmail.com

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  5. I just discovered okra chips today, and I'm hooked forever! And I'm with you on the disgusting talking with a mouthful of food on FN - Guy Fieri is the worst I've seen. But I've seen some otherwise classy ladies and fellas doing it. I've been known to do it myself in close-knit groups, but on national TV I think I could refrain.

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  6. I hate listening to Andrew Zimmerns jaw popping too.

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  7. An alternative to vacuum fried could perhaps be dehydrating the okra and then seasoning it/adding a bit of oil. Worth a try! I had those okra chips from Fresh Market as well, they are yummy.

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  8. Your site was the first result after a google search for "Andrew Zimmern Jaw Pop." Seriously, that's how grossed out I was. That and when he takes a bite out of something new, stares at the camera, then rolls his eyes away and then towards the person who prepared the thing he's loudly chewing. New Yorkers I guess. I'm southern and my mother would slap me as well.

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    Replies
    1. I'm hooked, line and sinker.......will have to try the garlic for something new.......stopped watching these shows long ago for the same reason; as it seems to have become common place for food-prep shows..........@annoy May 17, 2011...I'll take personal offense for all of NY State.....Since that's where I call home; even though I now reside in the south.....

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  9. I'm hooked, line and sinker.......will have to try the garlic for something new.......stopped watching these shows long ago for the same reason; as it seems to have become common place for food-prep shows..........@annoy May 17, 2011...I'll take personal offense for all of NY State.....Since that's where I call home; even though I now reside in the south.....

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  10. Yes, I just tried them.... I have to confess... Hello my name is Deborah and I am addicted to the okra chips!

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