Italian Baked Okra Spears

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb fresh okra, spears
• 1 cup italian crouton, crushed finely
• 2 ounces tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon roasted garlic granules
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon italian herbs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• 2 rinse okra and set aside to dry.
• 3 place italian croutons in food processor and process to a fine consistency.
• 4 empty crumbs into a small bowl and set aside.
• 5 in a medium size bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients together, mixing thoroughly until you have a thick paste
• 6 stir the okra into the paste mixture turning gently until all the okra has clumps of the paste clinging to it. it will not have a smooth even coating, rather clumps of coating.
• 7 one by one, place 1/2 of the coated okra on one side of a foal lined cookie sheet.
• 8 take the other 1/2 of the paste coated okra and roll it gently in the breadcrumbs.
• 9 place this okra on the other half of the foal lined cookie sheet until the sheet is full.
• 10 bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until tomato paste mixture has caramelized and okra has an ever so slight crispiness left to it. do not overcook or it will be gummy and tough.
• 11 remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
• 12 enjoy as a messy appetizer finger food or as a side dish.