The verses run the gamut from the ridiculous (musings on its mucilaginous texture and the polarizing nature thereof) to the reverent (reflections on okra as a totem of survival, every last syllable both earnest and earned). Okra doesn't just happen by accident; you either have to be in a place that embraces it, or you have to will it into your life because you have realized you cannot be your full self without this singular and perfect vegetable.
"Whenever I see okra popping up, it is a way for me to connect with my ancestors. Really, that's how deep it is," Pierre Thiam, chef and author of the upcoming cookbook Simply West African, tells me on a recent phone call. Thiam and I had met a few years back, and when he told me that okra is his favorite food, I showed him the flowering red okra stem I have tattooed on the back of my left arm. It started a conversation I hope will go on for ages. "Okra is spiritual, and that's why it's not for everyone," Thiam says. "Many are called, but few are chosen. I feel that way when I see people who don't like okra. I feel bad for them. I'm like, 'Oh, sorry, more for me.
To acknowledge me is to acknowledge the soil. To marvel at black cardamom, cinnamon, fried okra.
-Excerpt from "Lost Jewels" by Megha Rao (2022)
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Food & Wine.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Food & Wine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Gilda Age - How to perfect the world's best bar snack at home
In the late 1940s, Rita Hayworth turned heads in Hollywood with her sultry, sharp-tongued, titular role in the movie Gilda. Hayworth's character also made a lasting impression further afield in Spain, at Casa Vallés bar in Donostia-San Sebastián, inspiring the creation of a pintxo-a tiny, toothpick-speared snack-that still bears her character's name today. The new pintxo was so popular that it was quickly adopted by other spots throughout the city. It is now Basque country's most iconic bar snack
Tasting Tasmania - Australia's stunning island state is home to stellar cool-climate wines, a vibrant dining scene, and the freshest air on earth.
Australia's stunning island state is home to stellar cool-climate wines, a vibrant dining scene, and the freshest air on earth.asmania smells fresh. Parks and wilderness cover 40% of the island, and much of the rest is farmland. Swept by the Roaring Forties-intense westerly winds that buffet the southern hemisphere- the atmospheric station at Cape Grim in the state's northwest corner regularly records the earth's most pristine air. Down here in Australia's southernmost state, not far from Antarctica, simply taking a breath is delicious. But that's not all that's delicious. Grapes retain mouthwatering acidity in the chilly, maritime climate of Tasmania (or Lutruwita, as it's called in palawa kani, the local Aboriginal language). Having loved Tolpuddle Vineyard's earthy Pinot Noirs, full of cranberry and orange-peel flavors, back in New York, I'd made a pilgrimage to the island for its wine.
Autumn Pairings - Our favorite sommeliers share their go-to dishes and wine pairings for when the weather starts to cool.
Our favorite sommeliers share their go-to dishes and wine pairings for when the weather starts to cool. Translating to "mashed eggplant," baingan bharta is a popular North Indian dish that combines grilled eggplant with ripe tomatoes, vibrant fresh ginger, and warm spices like cumin and cloves. Cut long, deep slits down each eggplant before grilling to help the centers steam and soften as the outside chars. Serve this smoky, spreadable dish warm or at room temperature with roti or naan.
Lowcountry Pickled Shrimp
Snappy pickled shrimp from North Carolina native Ben Barker are perfect for late-summer meals.
Beat the Heat!
What to pair with every type of spicy food
TAKE BACK SUNDAY
Chef Fermín Núñez's answer to the Sunday scaries? Porrón pours and paella for a crowd.
COOKING WITH GRAPES
GRILLED BRAISED, BAKED STEWED OR FROZEN THEY'RE SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A SNACK.
CITY THAT RICE BUILT
A hunger for rice laid Charleston's foundation. Could a love for the grainand the city that grew from it—be the way to a more unified future?
The California Wine Lover's Guide
55 bottles that will tell you everything about the past, present, and future of California wine
Beef Sukiyaki Pasta
In the hands of cookbook author Hiroko Shimbo, the flavors of beef sukiyaki become an easy weeknight meal.
