super simple okra and miso marinara over soba noodles

By gocatgo

not only is the recipe unbelievably simple – with only 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes start to finish – the result truly was amazing.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 c red onion (1/2 a medium one)
• 1 c okra (about 1/2 a lb)
• 1 c tomato (about medium ones)
• 2 tbsp miso

Details

Adapted from sweetbeetandgreenbean.net

Preparation

Step 1

prep whatever else you’re serving with the sauce first, since this recipe is so speedy. i put some water on the stove to boil and threw in a few soba noodles. they were done in just a few minutes.

if you’ve never shopped for okra before, it’s not too difficult. just pick the pods that are firm, without any large blemishes or bruises, slight browning around the edges is fine. i prefer smaller ones because i find they are slightly more tender.

chop up all your ingredients before you get to cooking. exact measurements are not necessarily, about a cup of all your veggies, give or take. i choose jubilee heirloom tomatoes because i like their color and flavor, but any kind will due – since they are being cooked you don’t have to start with the most delicate flavors and textures, which are easier to enjoy when raw.

heat up the oil in a frying pan over high heat for a minute or two before adding the onion. sauté for a few minutes, or until soft, before adding in the okra. if you’ve never worked with okra before, it’s notorious for being sticky. you’ll notice when you cut it that it feels a bit slimy, and when you cook it you can see long strands when you stir. this will help to thicken the sauce.

after a few minutes, toss in the tomato and sauté until they are soft and starting to make the mixture more liquidy. then scoop in the miso paste, mix thoroughly and cut the heat. serve up immediately however you’d like, it’s best fresh and hot.