Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Okra: Not From Around Here

This evening Martina made a North African okra dish. Although many of us rightly associate okra with the American South, the food is actually of African origin and was brought to North America by African slaves. According to Merriam-Webster, the term "okra" comes from Africa and is related to the Ibo word okuru. The word "gumbo," which also means "okra," comes from a Bantu dialect. In Africa, okra is used to thicken soups, and somehow the word "gumbo" became the name of the Creole dish. Well, any way you slice it, I am a fan of okra in all of its different regional styles, be it North African, Cajun, or Southern. And I am always happy to raise my flag and shout, "Hurray! Hurray for okra!"

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Here's ol' King George singing about "Texas Cookin'." Okra, of course, gets a name check.




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