OKRO (BENEFITS, HISTORY AND SOUP RECIPE)

SAMPLE OF FRESH OKRO VEGETABLE

''Choose one and let us go please, I am tired'' I told my mum who would not simply pick any plate of okra portion at the Tinubu market in Lagos. We had walked 45 minutes turning round and round a very small market, I still couldn't understand why mum wouldn't just pick some portions and pay for them so we could go home and have our lunch, I was just too famished for all this , the scorching sun made it even worse, I stared at my mum and felt like strapping her on my back home, but she did not even blink twice at me. ''So madam, how much is this plate of okra'' mum asked another seller at the market ''I sell a hundred naira for one portion and two hundred naira for 3 portions, buying 3 portions is better'' the seller said and further advised.  ''Ok, I will be back'' mum said and left the sellers shade. At this point, I felt even worse. This was the fifteenth shop we had visited without buying any portion of okra, gradually, my tummy began to control my brain, I felt like running home with my slippers in my hand, why did she leave this generous offer? I questioned as I murmured away.
After lunch, mum called and asked me to take a sit by her side, she said to me ''young woman, never be in hurry to buy anything at the market especially okra, you do not want a bad deal so you have to be careful. Now, let me tell you all there is to know about okra'' she continued....
WHAT IS OKRA?
''Okra is a vegetable also known as lady's fingers due to its shape, it is greenish and is said to originate from Africa. Its pods contain edible seeds which produce a sticky liquid when chopped or mashed, this sticky liquid helps thicken the soup or stew made with okra.'' In addition..... mum said and continued
THE ADAGE
''My dear, okra has been in the world for as long as a man remembers, hence, the famous African adage 'No matter how an okra tree grows, it can never be taller than it's owner.' ''This popular adage said by most parents, reminds every child that you can always be cautioned by an elder, regardless of how much you may have achieved. However, I always got lost in thought hearing this adage, I mean, why okra? how tall can it be for this adage to be used in this manner and how significant is this vegetable? But then, it is an adage older than my grandfather, its importance should be my utmost concern I always thought to myself as a young girl.'' mum said with a smile on her face and moved on.
TAKE YOUR TIME...
''One needs to be careful when purchasing this vegetable, a hard okra vegetable will not be useful to make a good soup, the vegetable has to be very tender, it is advisable to feel the tenderness by pressing the okra a bit.
Any okra vegetable that does not have a nice green colour is probably bad, it has to be fresh and greenish in colour.'' she said and moved on...
ITS BENEFIT
''Okra is rich in vitamins A and C for good vision and body immunity, it has no fat or calories which make it very fit for consumption. Diabetic patients can happily associate with okra because it reduces sugar level. Finally, it helps during constipation as a laxative.'' mum said with a smile on her face as if she remembered something funny and went further...
WHAT IS NEEDED


Medium size bowl of okra
1/4 teaspoon of salt
4 cubes of Maggi cubes
Two handfuls of dry/stockfish
Two fresh fishes
One scotch bonnet (fresh pepper)
Medium size bowl of meat
Two tablespoons of crayfish
A half cup of palm oil
Vegetable (hot leaf/ bitter leaf)

PREPARATION
Step 1: Wash and chop okra vegetable into small bits and set aside.

SAMPLE OF WASHED AND CHOPPED OKRA VEGETABLES

Step 2: Wash and chop vegetable (hot leaf or bitter leaf)
Step 3: Wash and cook meat/fish (dry fish/stockfish/fresh fish) using the right quantity of Maggi cubes, salt, pepper and chopped onions and set aside after about 20-30 minutes of cooking.
Step 4: Add the right quantity of palm oil, crayfish  to the meat/fish stock and leave to boil (additional Maggi cubes can be incorporated if necessary) and leave to boil, this can take 3-5 minutes
Step 5: Add chopped okra to the mixture
Step 6: Add vegetable immediately and leave to cook for 3 minutes.

PREPARED OKRO SOUP

Step 7: Additional salt may be incorporated for taste but not necessary most of the time.
note that okra vegetable should not be cooked for too long, it is better eaten quite fresh.

''Now, I know better mum,'' I said after the very long lecture, ''I am sorry for being naughty at the market today, please give me the honour of trying your mouth watery okra recipe for dinner tonight,'' I requested ''Sure my darling, let's see how well it goes,'' mum replied.
''And here you are, yippie!!!'' I exclaimed joyfully, and it did taste as beautiful as it looks.

OKO SOUP AND A DISH SIDE (EBA)