The common green-podded okra varieties are the usual grown in summer gardens, but varieties with red pods are those that can deliver a dual role of an edible and an ornamental crop. Red, sometimes called magenta or purple okra, makes an unusual and fun addition to an ornamental garden. Okra is a healthy food.
Can you eat the leaves of okra?
Turns out that the edible okra leaves also have this thickening aspect. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach, and a nice chiffonade (thinly cut strips) added to stew or soup will thicken it just as a roux or corn starch would.
What does red okra taste like?
Red okra are torpedo shaped and two to five inches long. Offering a unique flavor and texture, the fresh taste is somewhere between eggplant and asparagus. When cooked, however, the red color disappears and the pods turn green. Raw red okra adds a colorful touch. Red okra are available in summer.
Is it safe to have okra during pregnancy?
The extra folate supplied by this vegetable is beneficial to pregnant women. Okra may be microwaved, blanched, boiled, steamed, deep-fried, braised or sautéed. Blending well with a variety of vegetables, tomatoes, corn and peppers are favorite medley partners. Do not wash until ready to prepare as water causes pods to become slimy.
Is okra a fruit or vegetable?
Okra is a common ingredient in Southern cooking and it's featured in numerous international recipes. It's a fruit that's eaten like a vegetable and delicious when prepared properly. It's widely available both fresh and frozen. Okra can be cooked in many ways.
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What does it mean when okra is purple?
4. Purple Okra: Keep an eye out at your local farmer's market for purple okra. Like purple green beans, they lose their color and turn dark green after cooking, but they lend a gorgeous pink hue to the vinegar of pickled okra, and their insides are said to be slightly less mucilaginous.
Is burgundy okra edible?
This packet sows up to 34 feet. Whether you eat okra or not, this plant is worth growing with deep crimson red pods and gorgeous yellow flowers that bees love. The most productive red variety, these plants produce tender, 6"-long pods that are delicious in soup, gumbo, and stew, or deep-fried.
Does red okra taste the same as green okra?
Offering a unique flavor and texture, the fresh flavor is between eggplant and asparagus. However, when cooked, the red color disappears and the pods turn green. Raw red Okra adds a touch of color.
What color should okra be?
Generally speaking, okra pods are green and a staple of many a southern diet. A relative newcomer, Red Burgundy okra was bred by Leon Robbins at Clemson University and introduced in 1983, becoming the All-America Selections winner in 1988.
How many colors of okra are there?
Okra starts are typically more difficult to find than seeds, though some nurseries do carry them. Pods may be long or short, ridged or rounded, fuzzy or smooth, curved or straight. Colors include shades of green and red, as well as variegated.
What is red okra good for?
Okra is a nutritious food with many health benefits. It's rich in magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, K1, and A. Okra may benefit pregnant women, heart health, and blood sugar control. It may even have anticancer properties.
Can you eat red okra?
There are plenty of different ways to use Red Okra in the kitchen. They can be blanched, steamed, boiled, microwaved, braised, sauteed, or deep-fried. They also compliment well with tomatoes, peppers, and corn. The water makes the pods slimy so don't wash Okra until you're ready to prepare them.
Is red okra more nutritious?
It did not become popular because it was expensive. However, some farmers are growing it now as it is known to have more nutritional benefits than the green variety.” Red Okra, which is rich in anthocyanins and phenolics, can be grown in both summer and rainy seasons.
Is pink okra edible?
Pink "Okra" is not a true okra, but a superb edible ornamental; sweetheart pink blooms with lemony yellow centers give way to tiny tasty “okra” pods.
How do you know if okra is overripe?
0:462:39OKRA TIPS TENDER OR TOO TOUGH - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd as they get larger that's the lines the sinew a grain of the okra starts to get tucked. So whenMoreAnd as they get larger that's the lines the sinew a grain of the okra starts to get tucked. So when you get into that now that you can feel resistance.
What color is ripe okra?
Identifying Ripe Okra Okra pods are either green or purple depending on the variety. Okra is ripe and ready for harvesting approximately five days after the plant flowers, advises Michigan State University Extension.
When should I pick red okra?
Harvest the okra when seed pods are 1 to 2 days old and 2 to 4 inches long; these appear about 2 months after planting. This is when okra is at its softest and most digestible.
How do you eat burgundy okra?
Red okra can be cooked in all the same ways as their green counterparts and easily interchanged in any recipe as well. If the dish can be made with green okra, red will work too! And vice versa. Prepping the pods: rinse and pat dry; leave whole or cut or slice into rounds, lengthwise or diagonally.
What's the difference between green okra and purple okra?
The common green-podded okra varieties are the usual grown in summer gardens, but varieties with red pods are those that can deliver a dual role of an edible and an ornamental crop. Red, sometimes called magenta or purple okra, makes an unusual and fun addition to an ornamental garden.
Is pink okra edible?
Pink "Okra" is not a true okra, but a superb edible ornamental; sweetheart pink blooms with lemony yellow centers give way to tiny tasty “okra” pods.
How tall does burgundy okra grow?
four to five feet60 days — Under optimum conditions, 'Red Burgundy' okra, also sold as 'Burgundy' by some merchants, has attractive plants that reach four to five feet in height.
Why don't people like okra?
Some people don’t like them because the pods are mucilaginous, a long word for slimy. The pods are often used, as in gumbo, to thicken soups or stews. Turns out that the edible okra leaves also have this thickening aspect.
What are the flavors of okra leaves?
The flavor of the leaves is reportedly quite mild, but a little grassy, thus it works well with bold flavors such as garlic, onion, and peppers. It can be found in many Indian curries and also pairs well with meat dishes. Okra leaves are rich in fiber and also contain vitamins A and C, calcium, protein and iron.
What is an okra plant?
Okra is a type of hibiscus plant that is grown for ornamental purposes and as a food crop. The leaves are heart shaped, serrated, medium in size, bright green and covered in small bristles. The leaves grow alternately with 5-7 lobes per stem.
How long can you keep okra leaves in the refrigerator?
Harvest okra leaves from late summer through the fall and use immediately or store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three days. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 01/30/19.
Where did okra originate?
Okra is thought to have originated in Africa and cultivation spread to the Middle East, India and into the southern reaches of North America, most likely brought by the French via West Africa. It has since become a popular food in southern parts of the U.S.
Is okra a southern food?
Many northerners may not have tried it, but okra is quintessentially southern and linked to the cuisine of the region. Even so, many southerners typically just use the okra pods in their dishes but what about eating the okra leaves?
How to get rid of sting on okra?
Here are a few ways to prepare okra: 1. Fried. Dredged in egg and cornmeal and fried to a golden crisp, it's a " simple Southern classic .". Add a twist by making it curried. 2.
What is the origin of the word "okra"?
The English word 'okra' is derived from the Twi word 'nkuruma' and is famous in the United States as the thickening agent in the gumbo stews of Louisiana.
What is wickles pickles?
Or, "wickles," (wicked sweet and spicy pickles) as this blogger puts it. Spicy seems to be popular--- Alton Brown's recipe uses dried chilis and black peppercorns, and even Ladybird Johnson's pickled okra recipe included hot peppers.
Is okra edible?
Okra's a strange little vegetable, the kind of thing you might not guess was edible if no one told you. Its prickly skin can sting your fingers, and slicing into it reveals little more than seeds and slime.
Is okra a plant?
The okra plant, Abelmoschus esculentus, is a cousin of cotton in the mallow family. (Its hibiscus-like flowers inspired its original scientific name Hibiscus esculentus, but botanists later renamed it .) It's a good source of vitamin C and fiber, as well as glutathione, an antioxidant with anticarcinogenic properties.
What is red okra?
Red okra are torpedo shaped and two to five inches long. Offering a unique flavor and texture, the fresh taste is somewhere between eggplant and asparagus. When cooked, however, the red color disappears and the pods turn green. Raw red okra adds a colorful touch.
Where is okra popular?
Okra is especially popular in Egypt, Morocco, India, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East and in the southern United States. Okra has made a recent transition from being an "ethnic food" to becoming a chic vegetable.
What is the family of okra?
Geography/History. Native to Africa, okra is a member of the Malvaceae or mallow family that includes hollyhock, cotton, rose of Sharon and hibiscus. Red or burgundy okra is a relatively new variety. In varying shades of color, okra may be chunky or slender and have ribbed or smooth surfaces.
Is okra a good source of fiber?
It is fat-free, saturated-fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in calories. A substantial source of dietary fiber, okra provides over five grams per three and one-half ounce serving.
Can you microwave okra?
Okra may be microwaved, blanched, boiled, steamed, deep-fried, braised or sautéed. Blending well with a variety of vegetables, tomatoes, corn and peppers are favorite medley partners. Do not wash until ready to prepare as water causes pods to become slimy. Do not cook in aluminum or cast iron as okra will turn dark.
Can you cook okra in a cast iron skillet?
Make sure your cast iron skillet, grill, or fryer are hot before you start cooking okra. Getting a good sear on the outside will not only make the outside taste great, it will also reduce the slime inside.
Do okra pods steam?
Once you wash your okra pods, make sure they are completely dry. Wet pods will start to steam, which produces more slime.
What to do with okra?
Roasting is another method that guarantees crisp okra every time. Oven-roasted okra is simple and brings out that delicious nutty, slightly grassy flavor with an almost sweet edge. For extra flavor, add some slivered green onions. Chopped chile peppers give it a spicy kick.
What is a stewed okra?
Stewed Okra in Tomato Sauce. A Greek vegetarian dish, bamies latheres me domata is stewed okra in tomato sauce. It's cooked longer than most okra recipes, which would normally create slimy okra. The recipe combats that on two fronts: acidic tomato sauce and soaking okra in a salted water-vinegar mix before cooking.
What is a pilaf with okra?
Okra and Quinoa Pilaf. The okra and quinoa pilaf recipe sautés okra in water for a few minutes to create a healthy, garden-fresh dish. Onion, garlic, celery, and lots of fresh herbs, along with a few spices, add to the flavor. Toss it with cooked quinoa or your favorite grain, and it's ready to enjoy.
What is a spruce eat?
The Spruce Eats. Fried okra is a classic for a good reason. A light cornmeal coating on the pods and a quick dunk in hot oil make fried okra crispy and completely delicious. Some people like to chop the okra first, creating bite-size snacks, almost like popcorn.
What is the best way to cook okra?
The okra comes out moist, tender, and lightly crisp. The golden garlic adds a perfect hint of sweetness that brings out the sweetness of okra too.
How long does it take to cook okra?
The curried okra is stir-fried with onion and tomato and seasoned with cayenne, curry powder, and turmeric. It's ready in about 20 minutes and is fantastic over rice. Continue to 9 of 12 below. 09 of 12.
Is okra a fruit?
Okra is a common ingredient in Southern cooking and it's featured in numerous international recipes. It's a fruit that's eaten like a vegetable and delicious when prepared properly. It's widely available both fresh and frozen. Okra can be cooked in many ways.
