Fried Okra

(Bamya Kızartması - Aegean Region)

Large size okra, washed
Lemon juice
Salt
Pepper
Flour, plain
Sunflower oil to fry

Garlic Tomato Sauce:
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 large tomato, peeled, diced
1 tbsp crushed tomato, canned
4-5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt

Garlic Yogurt Sauce:
1/2 cup yogurt, plain
1-2 garlic cloves, mashed with salt
Red pepper flakes

Batter:
Rice flour*
Water

First cook the Garlic Tomato Sauce ingredients in a sauce pan until tomatoes are soft at low heat. Let it cool down. Prepare the Garlic Yogurt Sauce. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on it:)

Heat up the oil. Squeeze some lemon juice over the okras. Season with salt and pepper. First flour the okras. Mix batter ingredients with enough water to form a thick batter. Dip floured okras into batter and deep fry until light golden brown. Afterwards, place on a paper towel to soak up any extra oil.

Serve Fried Okra with Garlic Tomato and Garlic Yogurt Sauces by the side.

*Batter may get harder, so occasionally you can add a little bit of water. Finish it as soon as possible:)

Cornmeal Fried Okra (Misir Unlu Bamya Kizartmasi)


Large size okra, washed
Lemon juice
Salt
Pepper
Flour, plain
Eggs, beaten
Yellow cornmeal
Sunflower oil to fry

Garlic Tomato Sauce:
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 large tomato, peeled, diced
1 tbsp crushed tomato, in can
4-5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt

Garlic Yogurt Sauce:
1/2 cup yogurt, plain
1-2 garlic cloves, mashed with salt
Red pepper flakes

First cook the Garlic Tomato Sauce ingredients in a sauce pan until tomatoes are cooked at low heat. Let it cool down. Prepare the Garlic Yogurt Sauce.

Heat up the oil. Squeeze some lemon juice over the okras. Season with salt and pepper. First lightly flour the okras, then with the egg and finally with the corn meal. Then deep-fry until light golden. Afterwards, place on a paper towel to soak up any extra oil.

Serve Cornmeal Fried Okra with Garlic Tomato and Garlic Yogurt Sauces by the side.