Anyone ever have Okra?  It is slimy gooey goodness, (when you cut, you will see slimy goo), but one of the few green plants I actually like.  I decided to experiment Okra with cooked shrimp and pasta.

 

According to wiki, okra is West African origin.  My mom introduced me to the "fruit" (which tastes more like veggy), and we would dip it in prepared fish sauce (with lime juice, garlic and chili pepper).  When you put it in your mouth, it is also slippery slimy, a bit bizarre, but oddly, not gross.  The taste is sort of like snow peas, and the seeds are kind of fun to chew and pop with your teeth (who said you can't play with your food?).  You can get okras at your local grocers, fresh or frozen.  I think only a few stores offer fresh, but I prefer frozen because it seems to be in better condition, cheaper (sometimes $1.50 a pound), and it lasts much longer (because it is frozen).

So carrying over the dipping idea, I cooked cooked shrimp, and okra together with fresh garlic, mixing cooked pasta, seasoning it with a little bit of fish sauce and moderate fresh lime juice (depending on taste).  It makes a tasty Asian-like seafood treat that you probably won't see in any Asian restaurant. :P