Smothered Okra

Ingredients:
5 lbs Fresh Cut Okra
1 small bag of Dried Shrimp
Fresh Shrimp (optional)

Olive Oil

1 Medium can of Tomato Sauce or Diced Tomatoes

½ Diced Onion
½ Diced Bell Pepper
Sausage (optional)

Salt (to taste)

Black Pepper (to taste)

Cayenne Pepper (to taste)

Garlic Powder (to taste)

Brown or White Rice (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil bottom of round oven safe pot, such as a Dutch oven. Put okra, onions, bell peppers and dried shrimp into Dutch oven. If you use sausage in the dish, you would add it to the pot at this time. Do not cover the pot while in the oven. Let okra cook until slimey consistency is gone. Stir every 5 minutes until slime is reduced or gone. After slimey consistency is gone, add tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, shrimp (if you are using them) and add salt, black pepper, garlic powder and cayeene pepper to taste. Stir in all ingredients, then put back into oven. Let cook for 35 minutes. Stir occasionally during cooking process. When cooking is complete, let cool 5-10 minutes. Serve over rice or alone.

Recipe provided by: Danielle Davis (Athletic Trainnig Student: LSU)