Is it ok to use frozen okra in gumbo?
I would like to make some gumbo, but I can not find fresh okra locally. Is it ok to use frozen okra sourced from a Indian supermarket instead?
Best Answer
Yep, that'll be fine. For other purposes, it might not be your favorite - sometimes it can get a little more of the "slimy" coating that people don't like - but since you're cooking it in gumbo, it's all just going to get taken up into the stew (where it'll provide some thickening, as intended), so no worries.
A little more, if you're curious: okra contains mucilage, which is thick and slimy or gluey. If it's cooked quickly, it doesn't have time to release much. But when it's cooked long and slow, like in gumbo, plenty is released and dissolved in the soup, where it acts as a thickener. Frozen okra sometimes releases the mucilage more readily, presumably because the structure of the plant has been disrupted by the ice crystals formed during freezing. This might make it unappealing when eaten on its own, but if you're making stewed okra or gumbo, where it would all have come out anyway, it doesn't make any difference. (I suspect that good quality frozen okra, which has been flash-frozen, might fare better, but I don't have the experience to say for sure, and it won't make any difference to you!)
Pictures about "Is it ok to use frozen okra in gumbo?"
Quick Answer about "Is it ok to use frozen okra in gumbo?"
This Cajun gumbo recipe is based on several gumbo recipes by Emeril Lagasse. Frozen, unthawed okra may be substituted. In a medium, heavy-bottomed pot, over medium heat, combine 1/2 cup vegetable oil and the flour. Cook, stirring slowly and constantly for 15 to 20 minutes, to make a medium brown roux.Do you cook frozen okra before adding to gumbo?
Some cooks recommend first cooking or blanching the okra for 10 to 15 minutes in boiling water to remove the "slime," and then adding the okra to the gumbo pot as required. Or, if you prefer a fresh, crunchy texture, you can add the gumbo with the shellfish, generally just 10 minutes before the end.Do I need to thaw frozen okra before cooking?
If the recipe calls for thawed okra, then it's best to do so. If you plan to incorporate the okra into gumbo or soup, you could just add it in frozen. Some recipes involving the air fryer don't require thawing out the frozen okra first.Can I use frozen okra instead of fresh?
Our fried okra recipes call for fresh okra because frozen okra has a softer texture than fresh. We prefer to use frozen okra in okra recipes for soups and stews, including, of course, gumbo.How long does it take to cook frozen okra in gumbo?
Bring to boil. Add frozen okra, chicken and sausage. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Simmer on low heat for 30 to 60 minutes (the longer the better, but sometimes you just gotta eat!).Frozen okra YES OR NO
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: burak kostak, Pietro Jeng, shutter_speed, Tom Fisk