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Monday, October 27, 2008

Momoya Seaweed Paste Okra

P1260211
Okra tossed with momoya (a seaweed and dashi paste).

Been sluggish recently? Get something slimy like the okra (known as ladies' fingers here; do not confuse with sponge fingers which are known as ladies' fingers elsewhere) and the tough will get going. I learnt that when I drank a whole glass of red dragonfruit juice one day before I travelled to Singapore, and within 24 hours I was--how shall I put it nicely--violently throwing out the contents of my colon. The same thing happens if I eat too much okra. So next time you need to loose some inches off your tummy before some big function, reach for some slimy veg like the okra and 'emperor veg'. Red dragonfruit juice is a last resort because it can make you quite sick for a few days.

This simple okra dish is quick to cook and light on calories so you can serve it with some thing more heavy like karaage chicken or yakitori chicken. I'm not sure if you can get the Japanese seaweed paste called momoya where you are; I got these two bottles from Hong Kong. Tina , who gave me this recipe, told me that Japanese like to eat the salty savory paste with rice, like I eat my Marmite.

P1260203
Momoya paste.

Seaweed Paste Okra
1/2 kg okra
1 T dried wakame, soaked in warm water & sliced thinly
1 t toasted sesame seeds
2 t (or less) momoya/Japanese seaweed paste
1/4 t fine sugar (I don't even add this)

1. Do not top or tail the okra to minimize the slime. Boil some water and drop the okra into the water. Do not overcook. Scoop the okra out and plunge into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain well and slice into thin 1/2 or 3/4 cm slices.

2. Mix everything together and serve.

8 comments:

  1. I am very interested in the dragon fruit juice. Does it just detox? Cos you mentioned sick for days...so i better consult you before i go blend some tonite.

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  2. any tips on how to pick 'young' okra? I saw a lady when she's picking hers, she tried to bend the tail of each okra & test! is that how?

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  3. hey ur 1st pic, looks like taken with a dslr.

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  4. I love okra. Sadly, hubby doesn't, so I shall have to prepare this lovely recipe when he's away. *counting the days* hehe.

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  5. hmmm to detox?? sounds like a brilliant plan!

    i blend dragonfruit into my shakes at times..but i dont get that violent pukeup..maybe i might just make pure dragonfruit shake..hmmmm

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  6. just wondering, is there a veg dish that goes well with yakitori and beer? besides seaweed and rice?

    -Mark

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  7. pp: red (& white) dragonfruit has laxative effect. rmber i was very sick when i got to singpore? the dragonfruit drink made me nauseous, had the runs, lost my appetite for nearly 2 days. u need to drink a lot of it--i had a very tall glass of pure red dragonfruit juice. i'd never drink it again!

    denise: yes, u bend the tail n if it snaps easily, it's young n tender. what i don't like is when the tail breaks n ppl don't bought what they broke.

    ha, don't let my hub know or he'll say what he always says--my present camera is good enough.

    ll:counting the days so u can eat okra?! bad girl.

    joe: yes, try the pure juice n let urself go...

    mark: i can only think of chips, fries, fried peanuts, all the bad stuff.

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