Quite a few years ago, I was at a girlfriend’s beautiful loft for dinner, and for someone who doesn’t really love cooking, she had really put out an impressive spread of hors d’oeuvres.
Among those hors d’oeuvres were roasted okra. I was a bit hesitant at first. I’d only had okra in Creole dishes, and there is this dog slobber-type slime that I had previously associated with okra. But I’m glad I tried them!
Not only did I immediately become addicted to these roasted okra, I found out that they were made from frozen okra! Wow.
So I had to make them myself. They’re so easy, and only take a little bit of time for the thawing process. Other than that, all you’ll need is an oven.
Roasted Okra
1 or 2 1-pound packages frozen whole okra
Olive oil
Salt or seasoning salt
Starting the day before, thaw the bag of frozen okra in the refrigerator overnight.
The next morning, place the okra in a large colander. Give them a little rinse, then let them drain for at least 4 hours.
Place the okra on paper towels and let them “dry” up. There should be no very little “wetness” left to them.
Preheat the oven to a roast position, or to at least 400 degrees Farenheit. Place the okra in a large roasting pan or jelly roll pan, making sure there’s not too much overlap. Drizzle on olive oil, and season with salt or your favorite seasoning salt. I used a favorite spice blend that my girlfriend Gabriella brings me from Trader Joe’s.
Roast the okra for about 20-25 minutes, tossing them once during the process. They should be roasted on all sides.
Cook longer if there’s not sufficient browning. The roasting time depends on how full of water they are. Turn out the okra onto a serving platter.
You might want to add a fun coarse salt to them as well, but taste them first to test the saltiness.
I made a little Sriracha mayo for dipping, but they’re wonderful just by themselves.
Be careful. They seriously are addicting!
And not slimy.
This sounds very nice! I am used to using Okra in a middle eastern dish but am not really used to using it much and would like to, so this sounds really nice! No slime yeah!
No slime! I don’t cook with okra either, but roasted they’re really wonderful!
yes I only know one dish and so this is very nice!
These sound and look delicious. The sriracha mayo–icing on the cake!
I agree! Such yummy stuff!
What an interesting way to serve okra! Sounds delicious and I must give it a try :)
You’ll enjoy them Kay!
Thanks, I like new ways to enjoy food!
They’re really good this way!
Nice post Mimi. I actually love okra and pickled okra is one of my favorite snacks. I have never roasted okra so this is new to me. I don’t know why I never thought of it because I roast all kinds of veggies. Have you tried roasting fresh okra?
no, and I remember thinking about that when i wrote the post, then i realized i never see fresh okra. the next day i went to the store and there it was. I’m sure it would work just as well. I was originally surprised that a frozen veg was so good!!
I just started to enjoy okra after a trip to New Orleans a couple of years ago.and love it. Never had it roasted – glad it’s not slimy!
That’s the only way I’ve had it, but really never embraced that slime!
I deep fried some and also put them in with a tomato dish – no slime there either – very good!
I’m so glad you posted this Mimi. I love okra and have been eyeing it (fresh) at the market lately. My mom used to fry it and it was always so crispy and delicious (not slimy). I never found out how she cooked it. I’m going to pick some up this weekend and roast it. Do you think I should go ahead and buy frozen?
That’s a great question! I never see fresh okra, so I roasted it using frozen, the way my friend did, and it’s good. But I can’t imagine it would be better than using fresh, since fresh is always better!!! But the frozen is handy during the winter months…
Ok, I’ll buy fresh and see how it goes and report back…
great! it will be interesting! I wonder if you have to do a little bit of baking before the roasting step? i don’t know – it’s been a long time since I’ve played with fresh okra…
I’m a big fan or okra but never roasted it. It looks wonderful. I’ll give it a try soon. Thanks! :)
You’re so welcome!
I really enjoy okra but no one I love does :( Maybe I can convert them with this lovely dish! Stunning photos…
Thank you! I bet they’ll eat it!
They look good :)
Thanks!
What a lovely uncomplicated post Mimi. I’ve never attempted to cook okra, it’s always been one of those scary vegetables…now I’ll try! Love the idea of the dipping sauce.
You are so welcome! They’re really fun – and addictive!
Well, who would have thought it wasn’t slimy! I have never seen a packet of frozen okra round these here parts. The dipping sauce looks like it goes a treat with them.
they’re actually good just on their own – stem end and all!
These look like wonderful appetisers. Okra isn’t easy to find here and I’ve only ever seen fresh okra – never seen frozen packets. I love the look of the dipping sauce too. I can imagine these must be pretty addictive. I’ll try to work out where I can source some okra xx
Right after I wrote this post I happened upon some fresh okra, which I never see here! I know it’s really popular in the Southern states of the US, and maybe it grows there as well. But I know I’ve ever seen it fresh in the 26 years I’ve lived in this town! I’m sure that would work as well, and could be better!
This roasted okra look delicious! I must admit I have only had the slimy type of okra, so have not cooked with it in ages. This post is inspiring me to try roasting it! :)
Do try it – it’s really fabulous, just like all other vegetables that one grills or roasts. I’m with you on the slimy type, which is also why okra does not frequent my kitchen!
We’ve only seen okra once here in Ulaanbaatar. You’ve inspired us to get some if we see it again!
I can’t believe you’ve seen it at all so far north!
So impressed to see you can get frozen okra – I only have access to the expensive fresh okra and even then I need to hunt it down…..
I’m not surprised it’s expensive where you live! I know it grows well in the southern states in the US. I was just initially surprised at the quality of the frozen okra!
I always cook okra with lamb, onions and tomatoes; this version sounds superb and new to me! :)
What a lovely sounding dish with the lamb. This is just different, just like any other grilled/roasted veg!
I love okra but have never heard of roasting it. In fact this morning I was in an Indian grocery shop in Sydney and considered buying a bag of frozen okra which I often have in the freezer for my indian dry fried okra dish ….but I didn’t buy it. Now I’m disappointed because I would have immediately tried your recipe….and now I’ll have to wait to try it!
Well now I want to try your dry fried okra! Is it on your blog yet?
Reblogged this on freespiritfood and commented:
I have always loved okra. I know a lot of people only think of the slimy quality it can have if cooked in certain ways but it doesn’t always have to be so. I have never heard of roasting okra before but this recipe looks like a very easy way to create an interesting hors d’oeuvre to challenge your guests perceptions of this often underrated vegetable, Thanks Chef Mimi
Thank you so much!
Nice. It’s almost a pity that the big thing is ‘no slime’. Such is okra.
Ha! Well I have to disagree with you wholeheartedly!
Mimi – I don’t even mind the okra slobber! These look like a great, heathy treat and perfect for apéritifs!
Ha! You’re the first person who’s said that!
Looks nice! I did not even know about okra. Looks a bit like green chilli peppers. Is it any similar?
Not at all. Chile peppers have that moist flesh, and are essentially hollow, except for the seeds, and of course there’s some heat to them. Okra have a drier flesh, and inside is a slimy mess of seeds. They need to be cooked. A very interesting veg!
I am not fond of okra, except in a yogurt dish that I make once in a while. But this looks delicious! Thank you for sharing :)
I know! Nobody’s really fond of okra! But roasted they’re really good!
I actually like slimy okra! LOL. I must be weird. I love okra in any shape or form, roasted, pickled, with stewed tomatoes, in gumbo, whatever. But this does look fabulous, Mimi! Glad you found your perfect okra!
So now only 2 people have said they love slimy okra. You’re still in the minority! But I’ll always eat it roasted, that’s for sure.
Great post. I have grilled and roasted fresh okra, but I hadn’t thought of using frozen okra! I’m so glad to know about this because I like it so long as there’s no slime!
Well I can’t imagine that my way would be better than using fresh! I’ve just never done that because I never see fresh okra!
It’s good to know I can have okra when it’s out of season! You should try fresh though–as long as you can get small pods.
I keep on trying with okra, over and over – I just cannot get past the sliminess of it. Definitely an acquired taste, I think, or a cultural difference I cannot bridge.
I completely understand. This way, it’s not slimy, or I just couldn’t eat it!!!
I agree! I used to think okra was too weird in texture/ slimy to enjoy. This post might just change my mind. Look delicious :)
Trust me, there’s not one drop of sliminess in them when they’re roasted!
Okra tastes kinda strange, but I like it! It’s very common vegetable here, like tomatoes or cucumbers. I make it very simple – saute with tomatoes:
http://milkandbun.com/2014/10/22/moroccan-inspired-dinner-roast-chicken-with-chickpea-stuffing-and-sauteed-okra/
I should try your recipe, sounds and looks very tasty! :)
That does sound good, although I still dislike the slime…
Wow. I adore Okra. I always add it to my curries. Thank you for sharing another inspiring recipe with us Mimi. Emma xx
Even if you adore okra, you should try it roasted. It elevates okra to a new level, like roasting does with all vegetables!!
I will Mimi. I love a new cooking challenge. xx
Just to let you know I’ve nominated you for the One lovely blog award. See my latest post. If you want to join in you can copy the logo from my blog. Obviously its fine to opt out if you don’t wish to take part. Take care. Emma xx
You are so sweet, but I don’t have the time for them, even though I’m terribly honored! Or, I don’t want to take the time to do these! Thank you anyway Emma! Kiss Alice for me!!!
genius idea! I have never thought to roast okra before now, and its god to know frozen work well as getting good fresh ones here is always tricky. Thanks for the inspiration!
Even the same for me – I’m not quite to the south of the US, and it’s just not a popular vegetable!
This is a great, non-slimy way to prepare okra!