Okra lovers adore the veggie for its eggplant-like flavor and meaty texture. For vegetarians, this summery vegetable makes a hearty anchor to meat-free main dishes and beyond; for omnivores, okra is a versatile veggie side dish to just about any meat, especially one hot off the grill.
Even if you've never tried or enjoyed okra before, once you learn our secrets to preparing okra, we're pretty sure you'll become an okra convert, too.
Test Kitchen Tip: Wondering how to cook okra without the slime? It's true, when you cut into fresh okra, the inside has a thick, shiny liquid that might seem "iffy" to the uninitiated. Cooking okra fast and hot gets rid of that viscosity (aka slime). That's why our methods here—such as frying, roasting, and cooking quickly on the stovetop—are all about speed.
How to Prepare Okra for Cooking
No matter what method you use for cooking okra, be sure to wash your vegetables first:
- Place fresh okra in a colander and rinse it with cool tap water.
- Drain well.
- Slice the okra (if your recipe calls for doing so).
How to Cut Okra
Using a sharp paring knife, cut off and discard the stems. Cut each okra pod crosswise into ½-inch slices (or as specified in your recipe). Note that eight ounces of fresh okra will yield about two cups sliced okra.
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How to Cook Okra on the Stovetop
Wash and slice the okra as directed above. Then follow these steps for how long to cook fresh okra on the stovetop:
- Place okra in a saucepan; add enough water to cover the okra and salt to taste; bring the water to boil.
- Cover the pan and cook eight to 10 minutes or until the okra is tender.
- Drain well and, if desired, toss with a little butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.
How to Cook Fresh Okra in the Microwave
Wash and slice the okra as directed above. Then follow these steps for cooking okra in the microwave:
- Place the okra and two tablespoons of water in a microwave-safe casserole dish.
- Cover the casserole and microwave on 100% power (high) for four to six minutes or until tender, stirring once.
- Drain well and, if desired, toss with a little butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.
Test Kitchen Tip: Wondering how to cook frozen okra? Just follow the package directions. Frozen okra is especially good for soups and stews, its viscous interior liquid helps thicken the dish. For a true-to-Louisiana way to enjoy frozen okra, try this Chicken and Sausage Gumbo recipe.
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How to Cook Fried Okra
Cooking okra over high heat is absolutely the best way to prepare it. And when it comes to heat, deep-frying is definitely hot! A deep fryer is ideal for frying okra because it allows you to set and regulate an exact frying temperature. However, you can also use a large heavy pan and a deep-fry thermometer to make fried okra. Our fried okra recipes call for fresh okra because frozen okra has a softer texture than fresh. We prefer to use frozen okra in recipes for soups and stews, including, of course, vegetarian gumbo.
The general steps to frying okra are:
- Wash as above and cut into bite-size pieces.
- Prepare a coating. Cornmeal and spices are a common coating for okra.
- Prepare an egg wash (aka a beaten egg and one tablespoon milk or water).
- Preheat your oil to 365 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dip okra pieces in egg wash and then your desired coating.
- Fry, in batches, three to four minutes or until tender.
- Remove the okra from the oil with a slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels.
Test Kitchen Tip: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and keep already-fried okra in the oven while you fry up the other batches.
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How to Cook Okra in the Oven
We love roasting vegetables, and okra is no exception. Here's how to cook okra in the oven:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil; set aside.
- Wash one pound of whole fresh okra as directed above; do not slice.
- In a large bowl, stir together two tablespoons of olive oil and one clove of minced garlic. Add okra; toss to combine.
- Arrange okra in a single layer in the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper, or desired spices to taste.
- Roast, 15 minutes or until okra is light brown, shaking the pan once.
- Transfer okra to a serving platter and serve.
How to Grill Okra
Can you grill okra? You bet! Remember, when it comes to preparing okra, high heat is this veggie's best friend.
- In a large bowl toss 1 1/2 pounds of fresh okra with 1/4 cup of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Using tongs, transfer okra to a grill rack or grill basket in a covered grill directly over high heat.
- Grill for 3 minutes or until charred and okra is crisp-tender, turning occasionally.
Cajun Chicken Salad with Cornbread Croutons
Frequently Asked Questions
What is okra?
A member of the mallow family of plants and a mainstay of Southern cooking, okra was brought to the United States by enslaved Ethiopians. The oblong green okra pod is the edible part of the plant.
What is the best way to cook okra?
Okra tastes great in so many ways! Fried is probably the most common, but any high-heat cooking method is great. And, of course, it's a staple ingredient in gumbo.
What is the nutritional value of okra?
One cup of raw okra contains 33 calories, 0.19 grams of fat, 3.2 grams of dietary fiber, 82 mg of calcium, and 299 mg of potassium.
When is okra in season?
The peak season for fresh okra is March through November, though you can usually find it year-round throughout the southern United States. When selecting okra, look for small, crisp, brightly colored pods without brown spots or blemishes. Avoid any okra pod that is shriveled.
How do you store fresh okra?
To store fresh okra, refrigerate the pods, tightly wrapped, for up to three days.
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