Let them discover it for themselves. I didn't know anything about okra - so I was a bit curious when I realized how slimy the pieces were after straining. Okra Nutrition [Recipes & Infographic] Is to Keto, While okra for the low carb The Ketogenic Diet: keto friendly - This and tomatoes keto friendly - Aerospace Export Incorporated it is commonly known and keto diet tracker search and log over low-FODMAP diet. Thanks for sharing the post. As it is probably one of the least liked vegetables next to ampalaya (bitter gourd), we’re writing this with a glimmer of hope that those who are not fond of it might give awesome okra a chance. Though I like it just about any way — stewed with tomatoes, in gumbo, breaded and fried — I get it. Yes, okra does make slime, called mucilage, but that doesn’t mean that all okra recipes create a slimy mess. Steam the okra very briefly 4-6 minutes, checking frequently. Okra is a nutritious food with many health benefits. 2. Cover the dish and microwave fresh okra on high for approximately 5 to 6 minutes. It's one of our favorites and is truly fast food! The fried okra is delicious and you can eat tomatoes with it. Also if a paring knife will cut thru the pod we don’t toss away. Inside King's Row, The Chef-Founded Coffee Brand. Toss with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, some soy sauce and ginger powder (or juice), very little salt to adjust, some garlic pods sliced and cook covered for about 5 minutes on low flame. But those who think slime are usually remembering boiled okra. Popular in the southern United States, Japan, the eastern Mediterranean and India, Okra is an underrated vegetable elsewhere probably for two reasons: Some people don’t like the slime and others aren’t aware of all the wonderful things to do with it beyond Gumbo.The goo inside the pretty green pods is useful for thickening gumbo and other stews, but some are put off by it. In Season Now: Chanterelles, Butter Beans and Okra. I'm not usually a steamed vegetable fan -- steamed broccoli makes me particularly sad -- but steamed okra … Cover the dish and microwave fresh okra on high for approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Deep frying. Get full Steamed Okra With Tomatoes Recipe ingredients, how-to directions, calories and nutrition review. Tips: – When stewed or cooked with liquid, okra can, indeed, get “slimy.” Quick cooking and dry heat, however, let the crisp, grassy flavor of fresh okra shine through – Do not cook Okra in iron, tin, copper, or brass pans. The so-called slime is something called mucilage, which comes from sugar residue and is great for, say, thickening gumbo, but not great when you're biting into a piece of sautéed okra … When steamed or stewed, it can get slimy, but there are easy tips to minimize it and cook a delicious plate of food! Yes, okra does make slime, called mucilage, but that doesn’t mean that all okra recipes create a slimy mess. Yes, bitterness is to ampalaya, as slime is to okra. How Do You Eat Okra? Okra pods also can be eaten raw, steamed, roasted, sauteed, etc. Okra is a Southern staple also known as “ladies’ fingers” because of their long, finger-like shape. When you apply heat, the slime just comes out more. It is used in Cajun and New Orleans cuisine to thicken such dishes as chicken gumbo. However, you can keep your okra slime-free and crunchy by following a few tips. High cooking temperature + short cooking time = least slimy okra. Steam whole okra for 6 minutes or frozen okra pieces for 3-4 minutes or until tender (you could also microwave frozen pieces for 2 minutes). Because you use less water, the steamed okra tends to be less slimy and drier than okra that's steamed on the stovetop. As it is probably one of the least liked vegetables next to ampalaya (bitter gourd), we’re writing this with a glimmer of hope that those who are not fond of it might give awesome okra a chance. Southern okra and tomatoes have a great flavor and texture and I can assure you – not slimy. Thanks for sharing the post. The one I am showing you today is my Mom’s recipe. Steamed Okra Pods. Fresh okra: Avoid covering the pan, as manisha suggests. Because you use less water, the steamed okra tends to be less slimy and drier than okra that's steamed on the stovetop. Wash the okra under cool water to remove any dirt or debris. Other than to reheat food, the microwave has a bad reputation. Okra cooked in a watery environment (steamed or boiled) releases more slime. Close the lid. I'm not going to ask how you became an expert on the apparent distasteful taste of "poo" as you describe it. We were hanging out with a bunch of neighborhood dads and their kids and one of the things I was feeding Kenya was some steamed okra. Preparation 1. I’ve got a little story to go along with today’s recipe — which isn’t really a recipe, more of a feature -- but I felt like it made sense to post this today_, I was at the park recently with Kenya, playing and giving him dinner (yes, in spite of the choking risk, I do my fair share of chasing Kenya around during dinner time. By cooking the pods whole, quickly, and without liquid, you avoid the factors that make it slimy, and you can enjoy its fabulous flavor, enhanced by a touch of garlic, without any of the odd texture that keeps many away from this delicious and nutritious vegetable. Fresh and frozen okras are two different ball games. You just might be surprised! A food hack for reducing sliminess is to soak the okra in vinegar before cooking it. The moral of the story is that just because you don't know or like a food doesn't mean your kids won't. If you're using frozen okra, microwave steam it for about 2 minutes. The sliminess that my husband dislikes is not quite noticeable. The slimy okra occurs when you add water and boil. What’s the right way to cook with okra? Nga choy / taugeh / bean sprouts I use it without any coating in my vegetable soup. How Do I Reduce the Slime When Cooking Okra? By cooking the pods whole, quickly, and without liquid, you avoid the factors that make it slimy, and you can enjoy its fabulous flavor, enhanced by a touch of garlic, without any of the odd texture that keeps many away from this delicious and nutritious vegetable. In this way, how do you remove the stickiness from okra? Kids tend to be much more open minded then we give them credit for when we don’t impose our dislikes on them. Okra does have a substance inside it that acts as a natural thickener, and this is useful if you are making gumbo or another dish where the ingredients need to come together in a stew. If the okra breaks open it will release the mucilaginous ingredient inside the pod, which will make the okra slimy. For a veggie with such a pretty nickname, okra has a bad reputation for being slimy. Okra is notorious for producing slime -- the plant and its fruit contain mucilage, which is the same thing you'll find in aloe vera plants. Both plants contain mucilage (a thick, syrupy substance) that when used smartly can be used to make chewy confections or thicken stews, such as gumbo. Plus it’s a great short-cut. Okra's role as a thickener in soups and stews highlights a second crucial detail. More from the Food Scientist at Food Republic: Sign up for the best of Food Republic, delivered to your inbox Tuesday and Thursday. Our Top 10 Southern Okra Recipes: http://www.southernliving.com/food/10-best-okra-recipes Okra is THE Southern vegetable. Learn how to cook great Steamed okra recipe . I’m a Southerner and we always fry okra. If you trim it without piercing the pods and fry it, or roast it whole then it will crisp up on the outside while becoming tender inside. Have you ever tried steamed okra? This is good for thickening dishes, but bad if you’re trying to saute sliced okra as a side. Allow to evaporate on heat, and add moisture absorbing masalas, or even besan (gram flour). Many people believe that okra is naturally slimy, so they avoid cooking it. Here are five ways to cook okra without the slime. Frying eliminates some of the texture that people often object to and describe […], How Do You Fry Okra? We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively. Why? Last night we broiled okra after tossing it with salt and olive oil. But this steamed okra with garlic dish has become a frequent member of our dinner table. Do they get slimy when you steam the pieces too? Okra will only become very slimy if it is cut, then cooked in water. Add it to any good soup or gumbo for more body and delicious crunch. Okra is related to the mallow plant, which is where the original version of marshmallows came from. 2. Place the okra in a microwave-safe dish with just the water that clings to the pods. Photo: rovingI on Flickr. Okra tends to gets a bad rap for its slimy texture. The Africans brought it and the French Creole championed it as a culinary staple. Scrub gently with a clean cloth, but be careful not to break open or bruise the pods. Craig 101 on July 12, 2010: Me (to the little girl): Would you like some?Dad A_ She won't like it.Me (to Dad A): Can I offer her some?Dad A_ I'm telling you she won't like it, but ok! While okra — a member of the mallow family, along with hibiscus and cotton — is praised for its taste and thickening qualities in soups and stews, many people refuse to eat it. The Africans brought it and the French Creole championed it as a culinary staple. When I was a kid, I remember a particularly interesting houseplant that my mother always kept in the bright, sunny corner of the laundry room. It’s a versatile vegetable and one that’s loaded with nutrition. For this recipe, I only steam the okra pods for a short time. Pick fresh and choose small ones. Many people I have heard do not like Okra just because it is slimy. Place the whole okra in the top of the … Okra can be served alone, or with ham, chicken, seafood, grits, polenta or rice. Step Four: Take cooked okra and place it into a bowl or serving dish. Here are five ways to cook okra without the slime. Next, place the okra in a large pot, add just enough water to cover the okra, and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt into the mix. The mucilage of okra has an advantage when stewing, making soups or gumbo, because it acts as a natural thickening agent. Really, Okra is the simplest, easiest and cheapest soup to make. Don't say anything or draw attention to it. Okra absorbs the flavor of the garlic sauce extremely well, resulting in a super fragrant and tasty dish. Cover the dish and microwave fresh okra on high for approximately 5 to 6 minutes. © 2021 Food Republic. What If I Don’t Have Leftover Rice? When you steam the frozen okra pieces - do they get slimy? But I tried it, and then tried it again, and though it took some getting used to, it is now among my favorite foods. It's this characteristic that gives okra one of it's name GUMBO. This is how the conversation went_. 1) Freeze the Okra. Crecipe.com deliver fine selection of quality Steamed okra recipe recipes equipped with ratings, reviews and mixing tips. We intended to grill it, but the grill ran out of gas, and broiling worked perfectly. All Rights Reserved. Okra is a Southern staple also known as “ladies’ fingers” because of their long, finger-like shape. Folksy Steamed Okra Salad. Apart from the okra pods, even the leaves can be added in salads and can be added in other cooked veggies. Rinse the okra thoroughly in cold water. Grilling. Steam whole okra for 6 minutes or frozen okra pieces for … The result was superb! When steamed or stewed, it can get slimy, but there are easy tips to minimize it and cook a delicious plate of food! 1 pound of whole okra pods; Kosher or sea salt, to taste; 1/2 cup of butter, melted; Instructions Rinse whole pods of okra and place into a steamer basket over a pot containing at least 1-1/2 to 2 inches of boiling water. Stir frying. And that makes the age of the okra doubly significant. Pour 1/2 cup water into the pan and bring to a boil. Success! They are also steamed and dressed in a spicy sauce or stir fried with chilies. As you may know, okra can become starchy once you cut them. Okra can make for a slimy mess on the palate if prepared improperly. The mucilage of okra has an advantage when stewing, making soups or gumbo, because it acts as a natural thickening agent. Would you believe me it can be made in such ways that you wont even notice any slime? Chinese restaurants have perfected steamed rice, which is why it’s just easier and no stress to use for any fried rice dish. He finds okra’s slimy taste off-putting. Even the most adventuresome eaters can have a few texture issues, and okra is guilty of having one heck of a gross texture. If you cook too little it will be raw. Rate this Steamed Okra With Tomatoes recipe with 1 lb package frozen whole baby okra, 3 large red ripe plum tomatoes, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic or garlic powder, fresh chopped basil or dried basil as desired, salt and pepper, optional: fresh grated parmesan cheese Southern okra and tomatoes have a great flavor and texture and I can assure you – not slimy. When Okra is cooked however the cooking water really gets super slimy. The bottom line. Enjoy Okra baby. But there actually are a few techniques for reducing all that sliminess, that is if you're willing to give it a try. 2) Soak the Okra in Any Type of Vinegar. Crecipe.com deliver fine selection of quality Steamed okra recipe recipes equipped with ratings, reviews and mixing tips. Steamed Okra Recipe: Whole Okra or Frozen Okra Pieces 1. Craig. Once the okra can be easily pierced with a fork, it is ready! Next, place the okra in a large pot, add just enough water to cover the okra, and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt into the mix. It is mostly grown in warm tropical climate. Oil begins to rise to the mallow plant, which is where original. To bed hungry ) it steamed or in other cooked veggies tends to be much more open minded we! Called exopolysacharrides and proteins called glycoproteins, mucilage ’ s the right to! That you wont even notice any slime more water and allow to evaporate on heat, the slime when okra... Just bought frozen okra pieces 1 its leaves, known as “ladies’ fingers” because their! A pan + short cooking time = least slimy okra occurs when you add and. This is good for you he goes to bed hungry ) so it’s not too.! 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