Do you like okra? I often see fresh okra at my local Turkish grocery store. But I always find it hard to come up with nice okra recipes to make at home. So that is the reason I decided to make this roundup of 15 delicious okra recipes, for me and for you!
Okra.
Lady’s fingers.
How do you call this vegetable where you live?
It’s so versatility, but so slimy I hear a lot of people say!
True, I have eaten some quite unappetising okra dishes. And at the same time, I once had okra fries that were so good!
Still not sure where to begin?
Check this roundup of 15 delicious fresh okra recipes to get you started!
15 Best Okra Recipes
Of course all credits for these delicious okra recipes and pictures go to the food bloggers or blog crew behind each and every recipe. I have added plenty of links to each one of them for you to click on.
Click on the links and pictures and you will be redirected to the right recipe!
If your recipe has been included but you want it to be removed, send me a message and I will do that asap.
Let’s kick this okra recipes roundup off with – of course – some Southern style okra recipes first!
1. Okra and Tomatoes with Bacon (Southern Plate)
A classic.
Okra and tomatoes, and it tastes even better with bacon. Everything does!
The blogging crew behind the website Southern Plate says this about their lush okra and tomatoes with bacon recipe here: “Many people steer clear of okra due to its slimy texture. However, our recipe tackles this issue head-on. If you sautee okra at very high heat in bacon grease, you can truly reduce the sliminess that some people find off-putting.”
Now that sounds very promising if you ask me!
Okra, bacon, onion and tomatoes – what’s not to love? This dish definitely deserves a spot in our okra recipes roundup!
Thanks guys over at Southern Plate!
2. Southern Pan Fried Okra Fritters (Big Delicious Life)
There’s always room for fritters, don’t you think?
I immediately loved the look of these okra fritters when I say them at first.
Credits for them go to Jessica who is the cook and blogger behind Big Delicious Life. And she goes: “These okra fritters make the perfect appetizer or snack with some greek yogurt or sour cream dipping sauce or just on their own. I also love to top one with a fried egg for a delicious breakfast.”
Definitely sounds like my kind of breakfast, how about you?
Thanks Jessica!
3. Shrimp and Okra Gumbo (Rufus For Real)
And no okra recipes roundup is complete without a gumbo.
I bet that is the first recipe you actually think of when you hear ‘okra recipes’, right?
Well it was easy finding gumbo recipes, but picking just one wasn’t. In the end I went for this shrimp and okra gumbo from Rufus, aka Ruth. She is the driving force behind a food and recipes blog called Rufus For Real.
She says this about her shrimp and okra gumbo: “This is the quintessential Southern comfort food recipe you need to have handy. Is it easy and tasty? Absolutely! Does it come together quickly? Indeed. Is it worth every bit of effort? Without a doubt, 100% yes!”
Thank you so much, Rufus!
4. Fried Okra (Whisk It Real Gud)
Who doesn’t love fried food?
Fried okra is also a highly popular snack, so of course I have to include it here in my okra recipes roundup. And I find exactly what I want on a food blog called Whisk It Real Gud, and the driving force behind it is April. She share her recipes, from Southern classics to global favorites.
And she says this about her fried okra: “While typically reserved for dinner recipes and side dishes, in this recipe, okra becomes the perfect appetizer or game night treat. Slicing the okra into bite-sized pieces ensures they are well-coated in the flour mixture, resulting in a crispy and delicious texture.”
Sure looks addictive, these golden okra bites.
Thanks, April!
5. Smothered Okra with Chicken and Smoked Sausage (Food Is Love Made Edible)
Smothered okra, another classic.
And why not with chicken and smoked sausage? Ben‘s recipe on his blog Food Is Love Made Edible caught my eye.
His smothered okra with chicken and smoked sausage looks so good, the perfect comfort food as well served over rice. Just look at it!
Ben shares this info about his recipe: “Imagine having a meal so profound… Has food ever brought tears to your eyes before? This is the dish that does it for me. It reminds me so much of my grandmothers’ smothered okra, that feeling is just unreal. Whenever I make this recipe, it immediately takes me back to my childhood years when we would visit them in Louisiana.”
Thanks Ben!
6. Southern Black Eyed Peas & Okra (Grandbaby Cakes)
I was actually looking for a Hoppin’ John recipe when I came across this one.
Southern black eyed peas with okra, a recipe by Jocelyn who is the blogger behind Grandbaby Cakes.
Doesn’t it look absolutely splendid?
I love bean recipes, like this one.
Jocelyn says this about her recipe: “My Mississippi-born mama made this dish often when I grew up, and it is absolutely delicious. Comfort food. Packed with smoked meat and spices. It always gives me an incredibly cozy and comforting feeling. My mama’s black-eyed peas recipe for Sunday dinner, a tradition to start the New Year off right.”
Thanks Jocelyn!
Okra recipes around the rest of the world
We have had quite a few Southern style okra recipes now…
What about else where in the world?
What fantastic okra recipes can we find there?
Let’s get inspired!
7. Greek Chicken And Okra (Dimitras Dishes)
What a classic Greek treat do we have here!
Roasted chicken and okra, or in Greek “Kotopoulo me Bamies”. Just look at the golden color of the chicken, onions and okra. Absolutely to die for.
Credits for this lovely okra recipes goes to Dimitra, the food blogger behind Dimitra’s Dishes.
And she says this about her roasted chicken and okra recipe: “Okra is one of my favorite vegetables, though some people hesitate to try it due to concerns about its sliminess. However, when prepared correctly, it won’t be slimy at all and might just become one of your favorite veggies too!”
Thank you so much for this highly inspirational okra recipes, Dimitra!
8. Middle Eastern Bamya (Peanut Swirls)
I was doing my homework and research about okra on Google.
And bamya is the word that I saw pop up a million time.
Bamya is a Middle Eastern specialty. Okra cooked with tomatoes and spices, I’m in. You can keep it totally vegetarian, or add lamb or beef.
Of all the bamya recipes online, I picked Fatimah’s bamya stew. She is the blogger behind the website Falasteeni Foodie.
She says this about her okra recipe: “Bamya, or okra, is a true gem in the vegetable kingdom, often overlooked despite its potential. Beyond its humble appearance lies an exquisite flavor that you’ll discover in my authentic Middle Eastern Bamya recipe with beef!”
Thanks Fatimah!
9. Indian Kurkuri Bhindi Okra Fries (Yellow Thyme)
Okra fries, I once tasted them years ago in a restaurant called Chai Pani Decatur in Atlanta (LOVED THEM) and haven’t had the ever since!
So I should definitely try out Chhavi’s recipe for Indian okra fries right here! I love the color and crispy look these okra fries have. Chhavi is the food blogger behind Yellow Thyme, check her website!
I will Chhavi do the talking about her crispy okra fries here: “Crispy okra fries, fried with chickpea flour and a blend of Indian spices. This crunchy, crispy okra dish is typically served alongside Dal and Rice or enjoyed as a vegetarian side at gatherings.”
Thank you so much, Chhavi!
10. Malaysian Sambal Steamed Okra (Malaysian Chinese Kitchen)
These might look like green beans, but they are truly okra!
Doesn’t that sound amazing, Malaysian sambal steamed okra. What a beauty that Linda created over on her food blog called Malaysian Chinese Kitchen.
And she says this about her okra recipes: “In Malaysia, okra (often referred to as ladies’ fingers) is commonly used in spicy and tangy fish curries. It is also the main ingredient in for instance a highly popular stir fry called kangkung belacan. Another okra favorite here at home is this sambal steamed okra. Such a quick and easy dish that you can prepare in just 20 minutes if you have sambal belacan in your pantry.”
Thanks Linda!
11. Nigerian Seafood Okra Soup (Nigerian Food TV)
This next okra recipes is one that Lilian created!
She is the blogger behind Nigerian Food TV, and her okra recipe is a popular Nigerian seafood and okra soup. It is often called okro soup as well.
Lilian wants to say this about her recipe for okra soup: “Not surprisingly, okra is one of the most popular vegetables in Africa. My classic seafood okra soup also goes by the popular name of “okro”. This soup is is packed with a few types of seafood I love the most. You can easily tweak it by adding your favorite seafood. Think of ingredients such as crabs, lobster, squid, calamari and periwinkles.”
Thanks Lilian!
12. Charred Okra with Lemon & Coriander Dressing (Real Meal Revolution)
This next okra recipe isn’t really linked to a specific country or region.
I just liked the look and sound of it when I saw it, so much so that I thought I should include it in my okra recipes roundup!
The website I found it on is called Real Meal Revolution, packed with recipes focusing on the banting and keto diet. Not that I know anything about that, I just liked their recipe for charred okra with lemon and coriander dressing!
Not sure who is behind it, the only thing that is said about the recipe is that “if you don’t want to fire up the BBQ, you can simply char the okra over a gas flame”.
Noted, thanks!
13. Kerala Okra Mappas (Nish Kitchen)
Time for an Indian okra curry, yes please!
And Rose has the perfect recipe for this occasion: her lush and creamy looking Kerala okra mappas. You can find the recipe on her food blog called Nish Kitchen.
Here’s what she says about her okra recipes: “When I posted my okra masala recipe, I mentioned the bountiful okra harvest we enjoyed this summer. Well, it is about time to share one of my all-time favorite okra recipes by the name of okra mappas. This curry celebrates the very last batch of okra I harvested from my little veggie patch. A timeless dish that showcases fried okra enveloped in a luscious coconut sauce.”
Thanks Rose!
14. Japanese Okra Ohitashi (Explore Cook Eat)
A Japanese recipe, we haven’t had one of those okra recipes before!
I am familiar with Ohitashi, I made the highly popular spinach ohitashi before at home. Absolutely loved it, so I bet that I will love this Japanese okra ohitashi as well!
Credits for this recipe go to Grace, the food blogger behind the blog Explore Cook Eat.
And she says this about her okra recipes: “Do you enjoy okra? Interestingly, it is a fruit that people tend to either adore or dislike. I belong to the group that loves it and was delighted to discover this Japanese salad called Okra Ohitashi, which offers a refreshing alternative to fried okra!”
Thanks Grace!
15. Bhindi Curry with Dry Coconut – Bendakaya Kobbari Karam (Blend With Spices)
And let’s end this okra recipes roundup with one of my most favorite okra recipes…
Bhindi curry with a twist, or a dry okra curry the way I like it the most: with dry coconut!
This okra recipes by Hari Chandana Ponnaluri, an Indian food blogger, behind Blend With Spices is absolutely to die for. Totally my thing! Simplicity is absolute key here.
If you want to give this one a try at home, you will need ingredients like okra, dry coconut, chili powder, turmeric powder, garlic, oil and salt. Things I have in my spice cupboard and pantry at this very moment!
Sounds so good.
Thanks Hari Chandana Ponnaluri!
