How To Cook Okra (6 Easy Methods)

Step 1

Rinse the pods in a colander, use a vegetable scrubbing brush if wanted, then carefully pat them dry.

Step 2

Using a sharp knife, trim the stems to about ½-inch (13 mm).

Step 3

Depending on which cooking method you plan to use, it's time to chop the okra - you can cut it crosswise into round slices, at a bias (diagonally), lengthwise in half, leave it whole, etc.

Step 4

Note that whole roasted okra tends to be slimier than cut pieces.Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC.

Step 5

Transfer the prepared okra pods (whole OR sliced into ½-¾ inch pieces) to a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space in between. Drizzle the pods with olive oil and, optionally, salt and black pepper.

Step 6

Roast the okra for between 15-20 minutes until tender in the middle and lightly golden brown on the outside. For extra browning, broil the pieces for a few minutes in the end.

Step 7

Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF/200ºC.

Step 8

Drizzle the pods with olive oil (and salt and pepper if you like), then spread the okra in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with space between. Cook in batches if necessary.

Step 9

Air fry the pods for 8-12 minutes for chopped pieces or 14-18 minutes for whole pods (depending on their size) until they're tender in the middle and lightly browned on the outside.

Step 10

How To Air Fry Frozen Okra? Follow the same method above, air frying whole okra for 15-18 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. If air frying smaller pieces, air fry for 10-14 minutes.

Step 11

Note that you can fry small okra whole OR cut larger ones down into 1-inch pieces.

Step 12

In a large, deep pan, add about 2 inches of neutral frying oil (or use a deep fryer). Heat the oil to 365ºF/185ºC (or until a wooden skewer inserted into the oil bubbles immediately, but doesn't smoke).

Step 13

Carefully lower the okra into the oil using a slotted spoon and allow it to fry, stirring now and then, until it is browned and crisp and tender-crisp in the middle (4-8 minutes based on whether they're cut or whole). Small ¼-inch pieces will be ready in just 2-3 minutes.

Step 14

Remove with a slotted spoon and drain over paper towels.

Step 15

How To Fry Frozen Okra? It's best to thaw the okra first when frying it, as oil can spatter wildly when any ice is introduced. So, instead, thaw and dry the okra first, then continue with the above method.

Step 16

You can sauté the pods whole OR cut them into small bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch pieces) Heat a swirl of olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat.You can also use frozen okra for this pan-fried okra recipe, but make sure it's fully thawed and pat dry first.

Step 17

Once hot (this is important!), add the okra and sauté for 5-7 minutes (possibly up to 10 mins for whole okra pods), stirring frequently, until tender and lightly browned.

Step 18

Preheat the grill to medium-high and coat the pods with oil and seasoning.

Step 19

Place them on the grill in a single layer, with space between, and grill for 4-7 minutes per side until browned/lightly charred all over.You may find it easier to create skewers of okra pods, so they're really easy to move and flip over in one go. I recommend using two skewers for one row of pods to keep them stable and not spinning.

Step 20

Place sliced okra (3/4-1 inch round slices) into a saucepan and cover with salted water.

Step 21

Bring the water to a boil (about 5-7 mins) and add ¼ cup of vinegar or lemon juice (I use apple cider vinegar) to the pot without stirring it in.

Step 22

Cover it with a lid and cook for 5-8 minutes, or until the okra is fork-tender.Start testing the boiling okra at 3 minutes and every minute or two after that. Be careful not to overcook it, or it becomes slimy.

Step 23

Drain immediately and toss with a little butter, salt, and pepper.