33 Okra Recipes We Can't Get Enough Of—From Stuffed and Steamed to Straight-up Fried

Foodomania

September 18, 2022 at 2:34 AM·5 min read

Okra, a common ingredient featured in Indian and Southern cooking, is actually a fruit eaten as a vegetable! Famous for its slimy texture, Okra is delicious if prepared properly. It can also be cooked many ways: steamed, stir or deep-fried, stewed or baked.

When steamed or stewed, it can get even slimier, but there are easy tips to minimize that factor and cook delicious okra dishes! These 33 best okra recipes would make for a great main course or even as side dishes. So whether you're already an okra fan, or your new to the tubular veg, give these easy okra recipes a try.

What is Okra?

These long, green veggies are actually the seed pods of the okra plant (scientific name, Abelmoschus esculentus). They're commonly known as ladies' fingers (because of how they look!) or ochro and okro. Originating in West Africa and South Asia, okra is featured in many popular indigenous recipes and can act as a thickener.

When is Okra in Season?

The okra plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world, but its peak seasons are in June and July. Because of where these veggies thrive, they are is popular in the southern United States, parts of Africa the Middle East, the Caribbean and South America.

What Does Okra Taste Like?

Okra has different flavors depending on how it is cooked. When fried, it has a nutty flavor. When steamed, it does become quite slimy, but has a rather sweet flavor. It definitely is an acquired taste, but enjoyed by millions around the world!

How to Cook Okra

Try Pickled Okra, for example, for a zingy treat. Another crowd-pleasing favorite is the Cheese-Stuffed, Bacon-Wrapped Okra. The Persian-Style Okra Stew takes okra to another level and so does the humble Buttermilk Okra Panzanella Salad!

Everyone has a favorite okra recipe and we've curated some of the greatest hits (that are not just gumbo) starring versatile okra as the hero ingredient. Be sure to pin the dishes you want to try next!