Gut Renewing Farm Fresh Stewed Tomatoes with Okra & Candy Onion

This week’s farm share includes an abundant variety of colorful, organic produce. The first thing to catch my eye was a bright and cheerful medley of baby bell peppers and the most succulent, vibrantly deep purple plums. I love summer and the wealth of fresh local, organic, sustainable food that is available.

In our Sage Mountain Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share box this week is a farm fresh local sustainable variety of fruits & vegetables that include: a richly sweet Sharlyn melon… which, I must say, if you haven’t smelled or tasted this heirloom variety of melon yet, you should and soon! Fleshly harvested and hand picked Valencia oranges, green apples, grapefruit Star Ruby, nectarines, melt in your mouth dangerously delicious dates Medjool, Candy yellow onions, tomatillo de Milpa, okra, salad mix and acorn squash (reminding me that fall is near).

While picking up my CSA box at Sage Mountain Farm in Anza, I ran into a long time CSA subscriber who shared with me the desire to see recipes in our blog for the lesser known produce items. When I got home and started unpacking my CSA box, I found the okra staring back at me, inviting me into a new relationship.

I began researching okra and in exploring the wonders of this mystery veggie, discovered it is at the core of disease prevention and stabilizing mental health. Who knew!? A potent natural remedy used in ancient medicine for improved health and vitality needed in our modern day society. Okra boasts a powerhouse of energy, and in addition to its nutritional properties, is a micro flora booster! Micro flora, or good bugs, help our bodies digest and absorb nutrients, rally against intruders, boost our immune system and send messages to our brain to regulate mood and metabolism.

To quote Hippocrates, “All disease begins in the gut” and the study of our gut micro flora is at the forefront of scientific research for good reason. In order to effectively prevent disease and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, we must continually grow a diverse micro flora and improve the integrity of our gut cells. Taking probiotic supplements in partnership with a diet strong in prebiotic and probiotic food is essential. Making onion and okra the stars of this week’s BLOG!

I found a recipe that withdrawls all the values of okras mucilage & nutrients in tasty compliment to other farm fresh veggies included in our current CSA seasonal harvest. This okra recipe has the taste of southern fried okra without the heaviness and on the contrary, will stabilize blood sugar levels and leave you feeling energized!

Since ninety percent of our cells are microbial cells and our diet influences our microbes, it’s true: We really are what we eat. Bon appetite!

Gut Renewing Farm Fresh Stewed Tomatoes
with Okra & Candy Onion Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped farm fresh okra
2-3 medium farm fresh tomatoes (peeled)
1 medium farm fresh Candy yellow onion
4 farm fresh baby bell peppers (red, orange, yellow, green)
1 small farm fresh Anaheim pepper (chopped very small) *if you like spicy, otherwise leave this one out
3 cloves of garlic
1 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup water
5 sprigs of fresh Thyme
3 tsp sweet or hot paprika
Himalayan salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

*If you love meat, this recipe would be excellent prepared with high quality, best tasting, local, fresh, clean Sage Mountain Farm Beef!

Directions:

1. Peel your farm fresh organic tomatoes by soaking them in boiling water for one minute followed by an ice bath for 5 minutes.
2. Dice onions, tomatoes and pepper medley.
3. Transfer diced tomatoes and their juice to a bowl.
4. Give 5 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves a good chop and add them to tomatoes; along with freshly minced garlic, paprika, and 2 turns of freshly ground Himalayan salt & pepper.
5. Heat olive oil in the skillet and add onions.
6. Cook onions until they start to turn translucent.
7. Add in the chopped okra and water, cover.
8. Cook for about 10 minutes.
9. Add in seasoned tomatoes and pepper medley.
10. Cover and simmer an additional 20 minutes or until okra is cooked through.
11. Plate alone or serve over rice.

Give thanks… and enjoy!

To be engaged in Community Supported Agriculture, offers you a chance to share in the farms seasonal daily harvest. There truly is a difference in taste, quality and variety.

Let’s make small farms in our region stronger and profitable, for theirs is a labor of love. Support your local small farm and become a CSA member today!

Comments, suggestions and questions?
Contact me directly: amy@sagemountainfarm.com
Visit www.sagemountainfarm.com for more information about our farm.
Together, let’s get healthy!