Italian seasoning + shaved Parmesan + lemon juice - who doesn't love Parmesan roasted veggies? Add the seasoning and Parm prior to roasting, then finish the dish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.Īnd I'm sure you can think of more variations! If you are an okra-lover, I'd love to know what your favorite way to enjoy this fresh summer veggie is.Simple salt and pepper - keep things short and simple if you like! Roasted okra with just salt and pepper is delicious and goes with anything.Creole Seasoning - okra is traditionally used in Creole or low country cuisine, so use your favorite Cajun seasoning before roasting the okra, then plan to serve it as a side with etouffee, or Cajun-grilled shrimp!.Once cooked, serve the okra with chopped fresh tomatoes and crumbled feta. Cavendar's Greek Seasoning + fresh tomatoes + feta crumbles - plan to add any all-purpose Greek seasoning blend to the okra before roasting.In this case, I'm using lime juice as an unexpected touch - I love the way it pairs with the smoky paprika and cayenne!įlavor Variations for Simple Roasted Okra Lime juice - a splash of fresh citrus really elevates the flavor of any roasted vegetable dish.It's filled with heart-healthy fats and antioxidants! Olive oil - my preferred oil for roasting vegetables.Special spice blend- including smoked paprika for bold flavor and color, a little garlic powder, a pinch of cayenne for a mild amount of heat, a bit of brown sugar to balance the flavor, and salt and pepper of course!.Fresh okra - small, 2-4 inch pods purchased preferably from your local farmer's market or grown in your own little garden!.But when eaten by itself, I'm sure most of us will prefer the non-slimy version of okra. Now don't get me wrong, some slime can be desireable for thickening purposes if you are making gumbo or a creole dish. Preparing fresh okra- whether you plan to serve the okra chopped up raw in salads, sauteed in a summer succotash, grilled on skewers, or roasted in the oven, the key to preventing that infamous "slimy" texture is to dry it thoroughly with paper towels or a tea towel after washing it.The best way freeze okra is to blanch it in boiling water for 2 minutes, plunge in an ice water bath, and then dry thoroughly before freezing in an airtight container. Plan to eat your fresh okra within 2-3 days of purchasing, or freeze it for later. Any moisture may cause your okra to grow mold or become slimy.
Storing fresh okra - once you get your fresh okra home, you will want to make sure it is completely dry before placing it in a paper bag for storage in the refrigerator.You want the pods to be firm and plump - avoid choosing pods that are soft and limp. Selecting fresh okra- for maximum flavor and tenderness, you want to choose okra pods on the smaller side, about 3-4 inches in length.Below are a few tips that I've gathered from talking to farmers about selecting, storing, and preparing fresh okra: So roast it, I did! And boy was I happy with the results!įresh okra is in season from July-September and grows most abundantly in the South where summers are hot and humid. They are the experts, after all! They advised that I try roasting the okra for my first attempt at cooking it, as sauteeing it might result in the "sliminess" that okra gets a bad wrap for. Maybe it's because okra is only in season for a short period of the year? Or you can't readily purchase okra in the grocery store? Or perhaps because I never think to purchase frozen okra? I really can't say.Īnyhow, I have my friends at The Food Initiative to thank for inspiring me to buy some of their delicious fresh okra and try roasting it. But for whatever reason, I had never cooked it myself. I LOVE okra and have grown up eating it - fried okra, pickled okra, and gumbo being my favorite okra dishes. Seriously, how can I call myself a Southerner? I don't know how this happened. It's seasoned with a sweet and smoky paprika rub and finished with a splash of fresh lime juice! We picked up fresh okra at our local farmer's market for this recipe.ĭuring a recent trip to our local farmer's market, Ryan and I bought a veggie that I'm honestly shocked to say I had never purchased or cooked before: okra. This easy recipe for Simple Roasted Okra is my favorite way to cook fresh okra.
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