Okra Squash Shrimp “Gumbo”

I’m submitting this recipe to Weekend Herb Blogging, hosted by Valentina of Trembom – English Version, and created by Kalyn of Kalyn’s Kitchen.  My herb of choice – OKRA!

I made a delicious and light version of “gumbo” for dinner the other night.  It was kind of a clean-out-the-refrigerator gumbo, but it was so good!

Okra Squash Shrimp “Gumbo”

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chopped okra
  • 1-2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
  • 1-2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup green beans, chopped
  • 1/4 of a butternut squash (about 1.5 cups, peeled and chopped)
  • 1 cup spaghetti sauce
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1.5 cups frozen shrimp, thawed (just let them sit in water for a few minutes; when the water gets cold keep replacing it)

Directions

  1. Saute the okra over medium heat in 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil for 8-10 minutes.  Set aside.
  2. In a medium or large pot, saute the onions and garlic over medium-high heat in 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil for 3-4 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium and add the okra, beans, squash, tomato sauce, and water.  Mix well.  Add the spices and let it cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
  3. Add the shrimp and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
  4. Serve with rice, salad, or topped with yogurt.
Sauteed okra:

Eats for 9/29/2008

Snack:

  • another salad like I had at lunch – closeup!

  • wrap with chopped plum/nectarine and Fage 0%

  • another nectarine

Dinner:

  • shrimp, calamari, eggplant, carrot, onion curry (with light coconut milk) – it was awesome (I went back for seconds)

  • raw broccoli

Dessert/Snack:

  • apple

  • frozen blueberries shared with Bobby

  • sunflower seeds and peanuts from this trail mix that I made (peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, lemonheads), and 2 unpictured squares of dark chocolate (from my bday)

Lunch for 9/29/2008

I like posting multiple times per day.  Too bad I can’t do it more often!

Lunch:

  • WW wrap with egg whites, cheddar, and organic ketchup

  • salad – iceberg, apples, onions, bacon bits, and some honey-vinegar-yogurt dressing concoction that I made this morning

I have nutrition tonight (if I’m feeling up to it), so I’ll probably grab a snack sometime this afternoon and make dinner after class.  “See” you later!

Breakfast for 9/29/2008

Turns out my bad day yesterday was due to the fact that I’m coming down with a cold.  I’m home from work for the day (got up, went in at 8:30, came home around 10:30), so I get to post early!  No workout this morning because I felt drained.  I’m hoping to get in a few walks throughout the day though.

Breakfast:

  • apple oatmeal loaf (all gone now – I had a bit too much last night… 😀 – no pic)
  • Dannon 0% plus (strawberry), chopped nectarine and chopped plum, cheerios

Eats for 9/28/2008

This morning I ran for about 20 minutes and walked for another 30 I tried to do some yoga when I got back but didn’t really get into it.  I’m having a bit of an off day.

Breakfast:

  • farmers’ market sample (unpictured)
  • 1/2 heirloom tomato
  • 1 large nectarine
  • cup of Fage 0%
  • cilantro chutney

Snack/Lunch:

  • sliced turkey with pickles

  • salad – sauteed broccoli, onions, and egg whites over iceberg with honey mustard and bacon bits

  • apple

Dinner: (the Cantankerous Fish in Mountain View)

  • Menu description: Southwestern Snapper – Portobello Mushroom, Chorizo & Butternut Squash Hash, Achiote-Chipotle Sauce, Avocado-Tomatillo Guacamole.  It was really good.  I got the sauce and the guac on the side.

I forgot my camera and the cell phone pics came out terribly 🙁  It was a really beautiful dish though.  Also I am stupid and didn’t know what chorizo was, but it turns out it’s some type of meat.  I wasn’t expecting that but I ate it anyway.  Oh, well.

Dessert: (unpictured)

  • apple-oat loaf
  • an organic gala apple
  • some dark chocolate