From stovetop to grille , learn how to cook okra in delicious , mess - costless ways that bring out its dependable feeling and grain .
Okra lovers adore the food - impenetrable , fiber - rich vegetable for its eggplant - same flavor and meaty texture . For vegetarians , thissummery vegetablemakes a hearty anchor tomeat - spare master dishesand beyond . For omnivore , gumbo is a versatile vegetable side dish to just about any gist , peculiarly one hot off the grill .
If you ’re already an okra lover , consider this your go - to guide for complete , slime - free gumbo every time . And , even if you ’ve never render ( or liked ) Abelmoschus esculentus before , our prep tips might just turn you into a fan .
Credit:BHG /Abbey Littlejohn
BHG /Abbey Littlejohn
How to Cook Okra Without the Slime
Wondering how to ready Abelmoschus esculentus without the slime ? It ’s true , when you rationalize into fresh okra , the interior has a thick-skulled , lustrous liquid that might seem " iffy " to the uninitiated . Cooking okra fast and hot gets free of that viscosity ( aka muck ) . That ’s why our methods here — such as sauteing , ridicule , and cook quickly on the stovetop — are all about hurrying .
BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
How to Prepare Okra for Cooking
No matter what method you habituate for make okra , be certain towash your vegetable first :
How to Cut Okra
Using a sharp shaving tongue , ignore off and fling the stems . ignore each okra pod crosswise into ½-inch slices ( or as specified in your formula ) . notice that eight ounces of fresh gumbo will yield about two cupful sliced Abelmoschus esculentus .
How to Cook Okra on the Stovetop
Wash and slice your fresh okra as aim above . Then comply these steps for how to cook okra on the stovetop :
Tip : To scale down okra ’s theme song slime , attempt dowse slice up Hibiscus esculentus in a potpourri of urine and vinegar ( about 1 tablespoon acetum per cup of water ) for 30 minutes before cooking . Rinse and pat dry , then proceed with your recipe . you’re able to also summate a splash of lemon tree juice or vinegar to the falsify water to tame slime and improve grain .
How to Cook Okra in the Microwave
dampen and slice the okra as directed above . Then abide by these steps for cooking okra in the microwave :
run Kitchen Tip : question how to fudge frozen okra ? Just come the software directions . Frozen okra is especially proficient for soups and stews , its viscous internal liquid helps thicken the ravisher . For a true - to - Louisiana direction to enjoy icy okra , try thisChicken and Sausage Gumborecipe .
How to Cook Fried Okra
manipulate okra over eminent heat is utterly the best style to fix it . And when it come to heat , a deep - fryer is definitelyhot!A mysterious fryer is ideal for fry Abelmoschus esculentus because it permit you to set and regulate an exact frying temperature . However , you’re able to also make deep-fried okra in a large , cloggy pan with a deep - fry thermometer . This deep-fried okra recipe predict for fresh okra because frozen okra has a softer grain , and we prefer to salve frozen gumbo for soup and stews , include , of course , vegetarian gumbo .
The general steps to frying okra are :
Test Kitchen Tip : Preheat your oven to 300 ° F and keep already - fried okra in the oven while you fry up the other batches .
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
How to Cook Okra in the Oven
We loveroasting vegetable , and okra is no exclusion . Here ’s how to cook okra plant in the oven :
How to Grill Okra
Can you grill okra ? You bet ! Remember , when it come to preparing okra , mellow heat is this veggie ’s honorable friend .
Now that you ’re armed with our preferent tips on how to cook okra , it ’s time to put those method to use in the kitchen . try out stovetop okra as a simple Southern - trend side , or micro-cook it for a warm veggie gain to weeknight meals . Roasted okra lend a flavourful turn tograin bowlsand salad , while grill okra is perfect forsummer cookout . And if you ’re frying ? That ’s the classic path to serve up okra , especially withcornbreadand hot sauce on the side . However you prepare it , this food - bundle veggie deserves a post on your plate .
Frequently Asked Questions
A fellow member of the mallow family of flora and a lynchpin of southerly cooking , Abelmoschus esculentus was brought to the United States by enslaved Ethiopians . The oblong green okra pod is the eatable part of the works .
Okra tastes gravid in so many shipway ! Fried is probably the most common , but any high - heat cooking method is great . And , of course , it ’s a staple ingredient in gumbo .
One loving cup of raw okracontains 33 calories , 0.19 gm of juicy , 3.2 grams of dietary fibre , 82 mg of calcium , and 299 mg of atomic number 19 .
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
The peak season for bracing okra is March through November , though you could usually chance it year - round throughout the southern United States . When selecting lady’s-finger , look for small , curt , brilliantly dark cod without browned spots or blemishes . debar any gumbo seedcase that is shriveled .
To store wise okra , refrigerate the cod , tightly enfold , for up to three 24-hour interval .
Hongu , N. , Franklin , A. M. , & Suzuki , A.What is Okra ? nutritionary welfare . College of Agriculture , University of Arizona .
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
Credit:BHG /Abbey Littlejohn
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
