Preheat oven to 450°F. Wash okra with cool water and completely pat dry with towels.
Toss okra with olive oil, salt and pepper on rimmed baking sheet. Spread out to avoid steaming. Roast for 20 minutes, until okra is golden brown, shaking pan halfway through.
How to Prepare Pan-seared Okra
Ingredients:
1 pound okra, halved
Vegetable oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
Method:
Wash okra with cool water and completely pat dry with towels.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add okra, cut-side-down, and sear until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Flip okra and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and finish with squeeze of fresh lemon.
How to Prepare Fried Okra
Ingredients:
1 pound okra, sliced into 1/2” rounds
Vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten with 2 teaspoons water
1 cup cornmeal
Salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Wash okra with cool water and completely pat dry with towels.
Heat 1/4” oil in cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add beaten egg to shallow bowl. Add cornmeal to second shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Dip okra slices into egg and then coat with seasoned cornmeal. Add to hot oil in skillet and stir constantly until golden brown. Remove from skillet and drained on paper-towel-lined plate.
Dos and Don’ts / Things to Note
When buying okra, opt for the smaller pods, as those will contain less seeds
Be sure to get okra completely dry after washing, as any extra water will make it slimy
Use high heat and cook in smaller batches. Spreading out okra will allow steam to escape, resulting in a better texture
Finish with lemon, vinegar, tomatoes or other acidic ingredient to combat sliminess
Okra holds up well to lots of spices, which you can add to compliment the rest of your meal
