Okra and Corn Maque Choux

I’ll admit: I haven’t made this yet. I’m planning to make it for friends this weekend, and I couldn’t wait to share the recipe — that’s how confident I am that it’s going to be delicious. I saw this recipe in Southern Living Magazine, and I altered it a little. (I’m using turkey sausage instead of pork sausage, and I’m adding crushed red pepper for a little kick.) It’s so simple, and it sounds so fresh and tasty. Not to mention, it’s different from the same ol’ side dishes we see at all the summer barbecues.

My first thought was, what the heck is a Maque Choux (pronounced mock-shoe)? I Googled it and found that it’s a traditional Cajun dish made with the freshest of fresh corn kernels, scraped off the cob. Also in my search I found another recipe that called for butter and bacon (instead of sausage), and it certainly looked a lot creamier than this one. However, I’m opting to go with the recipe below because it’s lighter.

Let me know what you think!

1/4 pound smoked turkey sausage, diced
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fresh corn kernels
1 cup sliced fresh okra
1 cup peeled, seeded and diced tomato
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Crushed red pepper (optional)
Olive oil

Drizzle sauté pan with olive oil; sauté sausage over medium-high heat until browned. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add corn, okra, and tomato; cook, stirring often, 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add crushed red pepper flakes for an extra kick. Enjoy!

Grill It!

Here's a great article with lots of yummy tips for utilizing your backyard grill this summer... grilling is fun AND it's a healthy way of cooking!