Cajun Fried Okra

Ingredients

• 6 cups oil, for frying
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

2 teaspoons House Seasoning, recipe follows

• 1/4 teaspoon Cajun spice
• 2 pounds fresh okra, sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Creamy Chili Sauce, recipe follows

Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F. (You may not need to use this much oil; do not fill the pan more than halfway up the sides with oil.)

In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, House Seasoning, and Cajun spice. Dip okra in buttermilk and then dredge in cornmeal-flour mixture to coat well. Carefully add okra to the hot oil and cook until golden brown. (It may be necessary to fry the okra in batches.) Remove from oil, drain on paper towels, and then serve immediately.

House Seasoning:

• 1 cup salt
• 1/4 cup black pepper
• 1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Creamy Chili Sauce:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1 tablespoon garlic chili pepper sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring well. Cover and chill.

Yield: 1 1/4 cups