CHARRED OKRA SKEWERS WITH SMOKY BUTTERMILK DIPPING SAUCE

If you haven’t tried grilling okra, I would highly recommend it. The charred flavor is a wonderful complement to this smoky buttermilk dipping sauce. Serve the okra on a big platter with the dipping sauce in the middle, similar to the way you’d serve chips and salsa.

DIPPING SAUCE

¼ cup buttermilk

¼ cup mayonnaise

½ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon salt

OKRA

2 pounds okra

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the dipping sauce, in a small bowl whisk together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, paprika, cumin, and salt. Refrigerate the sauce until you are ready to serve the okra.

For the okra, heat the grill to medium-high heat. In a large bowl toss together the okra, oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Place about 6 okra pods on each skewer. Grill the okra for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until each side is charred. Serve the grilled okra with the dipping sauce.

MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS.

TIP: To transport this dish, make the sauce and skewer the okra ahead of time, and then just grill the okra on-site.