FREEZE OKRA FOR FRYING RECIPES

Steps:

• To make the gumbo, heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the chicken and sausage. Brown on all sides, remove and set aside.
• Heat a little more oil if needed in the pan and add the onion, celery and pepper. Fry for 5–10 minutes, stirring regularly until softened. Add the garlic, Cajun seasoning and thyme and stir continuously for about 20 seconds or so, until aromatic.
• Return the chicken, sausage and any juices back to the pan. Add the flour and stir to coat all of the ingredients. Add the stock (you will only need half of it if you don't include the okra), tomatoes and okra, if using, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer with the lid on for 15–20 minutes until cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Add the prawns (do not add prawns now if you are freezing the gumbo, see tip) and cook for a few minutes until they are pink and just cooked.
• To make the cornbread, preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6 and grease two 6-hole muffin tins or one 12-hole muffin tin with a little melted butter.
• Heat about a tablespoon of the butter in a small frying pan. When it starts to foam, add the spring onions, sweetcorn and chilli and fry for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sweetcorn is golden.
• In a small bowl, mix together the polenta, flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the soured cream with the eggs, milk and remaining melted butter until smooth. Fold the dry polenta mixture into the soured cream mixture until you have a smooth batter and then stir in the sweetcorn mixture until evenly mixed. Divide the mixture between the holes in the muffin tins and bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes until golden and cooked through.
• Garnish the gumbo with the amaranth and spring onions and serve with the lime wedges and muffins alongside. Store any leftover cornbread in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Thaw the frozen vegetables. Place 1 cup frozen lima beans in a shallow bowl at room temperature to thaw. If using frozen corn or okra, add 4 ounces frozen okra and 2 cups frozen corn kernels to the bowl to thaw also.
• Prepare the vegetables. Dice 1 medium bell pepper and 1/2 medium sweet onion (about 1 cup onion), and finely chop 2 garlic cloves. Halve 1 pint grape tomatoes. Trim and slice 4 ounces okra 1/4-inch thick (about 1 cup). Thinly slice 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves. If using fresh corn, remove the husks and cut the kernels from the cob (about 2 cups).
• Chop the bacon. Chop 4 slices bacon into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Cook the bacon until crisp. Cook the bacon in a large cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until the bacon crisps and the fat renders, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Cook the onion and pepper until soft. Add the onion, bell pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt to the bacon fat in the skillet and cook over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Cook the garlic until fragrant. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the remaining vegetables. Stir in the tomatoes, corn, okra, and lima beans, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are heated through and tender, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Season the succotash. Stir in 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
• Serve the succotash. Top with the crisped bacon and basil leaves, and serve warm.