Food

Savor This Summer Staple with Our 10 Favorite Okra Recipes

And there’s no slime in sight.

By Chanel Dror
okra recipes

Until only a few years ago, I was a complete okra-hater… that sliminess was simply unforgivable to me. Then by some culinary miracle (in other words, a greasy helping of freshly fried okra with heaps of ketchup) something changed, and the little green pods are now a go-to choice anytime I spot them on a menu. But since we’re relatively new friends, I’d never even considered cooking with okra… that is, until I stumbled upon this super easy roasted okra recipe — it was simple, fresh, flavorful, and left me with a canister of homemade chili oil that I happily enjoyed for the next two weeks. As a result, I’m officially on an okra kick. Scroll down for recipes I can’t wait to try out, and feel free to share your own in the comments below!

featured photo via tartlette

Seafood Okra Gumbo by Snixy Kitchen

Spicy Oven Baked Okra by Shweta in the Kitchen

Roasted Potatoes and Okra Salad from Erin’s Food Files

Okra Parmigiana by the Spicy Southern Kitchen

Texas Okra with Walnuts and Cherry Tomatoes

Grilled Okra with Red Curry-Lime Dressing

Picked Okra from Alexandra’s Kitchen

Bhindi Okra Masala by Cookilicious

Orange Balsamic Roasted Okra via the Endless Meal

Smashed Fried Okra by Southern Living

Comments (19)

  1. Quinn Cooper says:

    Ok so I’ve never even eaten okra. Coming from Canada originally and now living in NYC. It just wasn’t something that was around. I never see it on menus, or maybe I just skip over it while browsing menus. Either way I’m a little embarrassed to admit that.
    Most of these recipes look great, I’ll have to try them one day.

    xo Quinn

    Quinn Cooper Style

    1. MobstersMoll says:

      They’re native to the Southwest.

  2. Sarah | Sarah The Architect says:

    Thank you for this post! I’ve only tried okra once and it wasn’t my favorite… but I’d love to give it another try with one of these recipes.

    1. Chanel Dror says:

      You must! Just go with a battered version… deep fried anything is always better 🙂

  3. Jennifer Rose Smith says:

    This post is torture. I think okra is one of my top five favorite foods — fried, pickled, dried, however I can get it! (Or as we like to say out in East Texas, “fraahd okry!”)

    1. Winzer says:

      Next time you visit I’ll have Stuart make you his okra gumbo 🙂 Fried is still my fav way to eat it!

      1. Jennifer Rose Smith says:

        Yum. Yes, count me in for okra gumbo! That sounds delicious.

  4. Alexa says:

    I’ve never tried it! But now I’m tempted! 🙂

  5. Valerie Woerner says:

    Love okra!! We have it in gumbo’s here in South Louisiana too! I agree with Chanel! Fried okra is a good place to start if you’ve never had it. My dad makes a super easy recipe that would probably make foodies cringe, but it’s delicious: toss fresh or frozen (from a local grower) chopped okra and a can of rotel in a pan and cover. Let it simmer till cooked. Such an easy side dish!!

    I’ve also heard, if you don’t like the slimy texture, baking it before cooking helps. I’ve never tried this technique though!!

  6. Carlene Thomas RD (@CarleneRD) says:

    Okra is fantastic, as long as you don’t get some that’s ‘old’ and tough. It’s fabulous in soups and, shame on me, fried.

  7. laurasmess says:

    Haha, I used to hate okra as a child (the combination of the hairy outside and slimy inside made my vivid eight year old brain imagine that I was eating little, slimy-gutted green monsters) but now that I’m older, I actually appreciate them! My go-to is definitely to eat okra with chilli. Lots of it, and to make sure that it’s not cooked til slimy. I still prefer broccoli and other greens but it’s not a bad vegetable at all. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe collection!

  8. FripperyVintage says:

    This sounds great, I love okra especially fried!

  9. Mia (Savor Everyday) says:

    Mmm I am a recent okra convert too! I never liked it as a child either for the same reasons you mentioned (slime)… until I met my husband (who is from India) and he cooked bhindi masala and masala-stuffed okra! (not marsala though as stated above – as in the Italian cooking wine – but masala without the “r” which refers to the spice mixture 🙂 ). So good! Now I’m more adventurous with okra, so all these recipes are giving me great ideas. The grilled one with curry-lime dressing sounds amazing. Yum!

  10. south47th says:

    I’ve always loved Okra and can’t wait to try this recipe!

  11. mais says:

    in the middle east we cooked okra with tomato paste garlic and coriander leaves and a little bit of lemon juice it is amazing..you should try it this way 🙂

  12. CHINA ALEXANDRIA, AUTHOR says:

    LOOKS GOOD, CHINA

  13. Natalya Amour says:

    Oh yum, this looks so good

    Candice | Natalya Amour

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