Okra doesn’t have to be slimy. In fact, when you pick the right cooking method, it’s downright addictive. Roasted Okra is the official route for turning okra-haters into okra believers. The best part? It’s by far the easiest way to cook that signature Southern ingredient! All you need is fresh okra, a little oil, seasoning, and about 15 minutes. That’s it.
It’s healthy, quick, and bound to be your new favorite summertime side dish!
Looking for more ways to cook okra? Try our fried okra recipe next!
HOW TO ROAST OKRA
Roasting sweetens and deepens the flavor of food, making it the perfect cooking method for okra. Cooking it at a high temperature reduces the bitterness, brings out its underlying sweetness, and (get ready for it) completely eliminates the slime factor.
Here’s how you do it:
- Preheat the oven and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- Drizzle the okra with oil and seasoning, and toss until evenly coated.
- Cook the okra for about 12 minutes, just until the edges are slightly charred and it is fork-tender.
INGREDIENTS
The beauty of Roasted Okra (other than the taste) is the simplicity factor. Recipes just don’t get easier than this, folks. All you’ll need from the pantry is a couple of tablespoons of oil and a little seasoning.
- Fresh Okra
- Oil | Canola or Avocado Oil
- Seasoning | Kosher Salt, Garlic Powder, and Pepper
CAN I USE FROZEN OKRA?
This recipe is for fresh, whole okra. Frozen, sliced okra will not cook the same.
CAN I ROAST SLICED OKRA?
On the other hand, if you want to slice fresh okra and roast it, you can absolutely use this recipe! Just note, sliced okra will cook faster than whole okra and you’ll likely need to cut the cook time down by 3-4 minutes.
IS IT HEALTHY?
Yes — Roasted Okra is very healthy. In fact, okra has a ton of health benefits, especially when you choose a low-fat cooking method like roasting!
Okra’s soluble fiber can help manage diabetes, it’s rich in vitamin C, K1, and antioxidants (which give your immune system a boost), and studies suggest it might even prevent kidney disease. It’s also low in calories and contains some protein and fiber.
5 MORE SOUTHERN SIDES YOU’LL LOVE
- Creamed Corn
- Purple Hull Peas
- Butter Beans with Ham
- Southern Collard Greens
- Stewed Green Beans with Tomatoes
An easy, quick-fix recipe for perfectly cooked oven-roasted okra seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- 1 pound fresh okra rinsed and dried
- 2 tablespoons avocado or canola oil
- 3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
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Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
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Add the okra to the baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with the salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss until the oil and spices evenly coat the okra.
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Bake for 12 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and enjoy.
First time to make. I used peanut oil since that’s what I had. Okra fresh out of local garden. I may eat the whole pan it’s that tasty! Look forward to trying again.
Yum. A great way to cook okra! Just a practicality check: how do you realistically toss any food in a foil-lined pan without tearing up the foil? Toss the okra in seasonings in a bowl first and then put into the foil-lined pan!