40+ Okra Recipes

Got some okra and aren't sure what to do with it? Intimidated by its sliminess? In this collection of okra recipes you're sure to find what you need to cook up and enjoy this versatile vegetable!

A collage image of six okra recipes and the post title "40+ Delicious Okra Recipes".

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What is okra?
What does okra taste like?
How to buy and store fresh okra
How to reduce slime when cooking okra
Okra recipes FAQs
Okra Recipes

What is okra?

Okra is technically a fruit but is considered to be, and used like, a vegetable for culinary purposes.

Okra originates from East Africa and is now grown in warm and tropical climates around the world.

Okra is cooked in many different ways and is an important component in a variety of dishes around the world, though most people reading this are probably familiar with okra from gumbo, fried okra or bindi masala.

What does okra taste like?

Okra has a mild flavor that some people describe as “grassy”. The taste somewhat resembles green beans or eggplant.

Because okra has a mild flavor, it goes great with flavorful dips, sauces and batters.

What okra is famous for is its texture. When cooked it releases a slime that a lot of people find gross.

However, there are cooking techniques that reduce okra’s sliminess and there are dishes that take advantage of the slime to act as a thickener.

How to buy and store fresh okra

For these okra recipes, you can purchase okra fresh, canned or frozen. When buying fresh okra, look for firm, unblemished pods that are a bright green color.

Smaller pods are more tender while larger pods can be tough and fibrous.

Okra is best cooked and eaten as fresh as possible. Store fresh okra in the refrigerator in an airtight container that’s lined with paper towels to absorb humidity, or in a paper bag.

Don’t wash fresh okra until you are ready to cook it.

Fresh okra is best eaten within 3 or 4 days of purchase.

How to reduce slime when cooking okra

The slime that okra releases when cut is off-putting to a lot of people and can make cooking okra a little intimidating!

Luckily, a well-written okra recipe will include various tips for reducing the slime when cooking okra. Here are some pointers:

First, avoid exposing fresh okra to water before you’re ready to cook as moisture will cause the okra to start releasing its goo.

When it comes time to prep your okra, clean it by either rinsing it under cool running water or by soaking it in a solution of one part vinegar (any kind) to two parts water for about 30 minutes.

Okra’s slime is the thickest when at a neutral of basic pH so the acidity of the vinegar helps to break it up allow it to dissolve.

If you’ve soaked your okra in vinegar, give it a rinse under cool water to remove the vinegar.

Whichever way you clean your okra, be sure to allow it to dry completely before continuing with your recipe. Again, exposure to moisture will cause the okra to get slimy!

Now, use a very sharp knife to cut cleanly through the okra according to your recipe’s instructions. It can also help to work in smaller batches as tossing a large amount of okra together into a bowl can encourage it to release some slime.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, cook your okra over high heat. Fry, air fry, sauté, grill, or roast the okra with high heat to cook it quickly before the sugars that create the slime are released.

If you finish your dish with another acid such as a squeeze of lemon, a splash of vinegar, or some tomatoes you can help break up any slime that may have formed during the cooking process.

Okra recipes FAQs

Do you eat the skin of the okra?

Yes, you can eat the skin of the okra.

Are you supposed to eat the whole okra?

The entirety of okra pods are edible but most people prefer to cut off the stem. Depending on the recipe you can eat the whole okra pod, slice it in half or chop it into bite-sized rounds. You do not need to remove the seeds.

Can you overcook okra?

Yes, the biggest problem with overcooking okra is that it becomes slimy. To reduce sliminess, read over the tips in this blog post and be sure to follow the recipe’s cooking time precisely.

Can you eat okra raw?

Yes, you can eat raw okra but it’s a bit slimy.

Okra Recipes

Gumbo

This gumbo recipe is hearty, savory and warming. With a mix of beans, mushrooms and okra, this gumbo is cheap to make and full of flavour.