OKRA? how do you cook it and when do you pick it

[caddyeldorado2006]

I had okra growing in my garden but i never know when to pick it and how to cook it if i cut it up or take the seeds out, someone help me

 

[Katy]

My favorite way to eat it is pickled. I also slice it and dip it in a batter and deep fry it.

You pick it when it's about 3 inches long usually. If you let it get too big it starts getting woody.

 

[crtrlovr]

oh my oh my, that's one of my very favorite foods! Pick it when it is small like 2-4"; if you let it get too big it will get tough and the ribs will be stiff. It's good in soups, cut into chunks (NO NEED to remove seeds, they are edible), dredged in flour or a mixture of flour & corn meal and pan fried, or you can batter it cut or whole and deep fry it. It can also be pickled (you've probably seen pickled okra on a salad bar), and we like it cut into chunks along with diced green tomatoes, then flour them both together and pan fry them in some cooking oil or olive oil. YUM!!!

ETA: it can also be boiled, but does get rather "slimy" when boiled. If the sliminess bothers you, you can add a capful or two of vinegar to the salted boiling water and it will minimize the slime.

 

[kdcrws]

It's great i soups too...*Tip* bake it in the oven for a bit before adding it. it gets rid of the slimy texture

 

[DuckLady]

My southern belle grama used to get mad when she would serve us boiled okra and we would tell her we REFUSED to eat snot!

 

[MissPrissy]

Send it to me! You'll never again have to worry about how to cook it!

I love it fried, boiled, pickled and in gumbo!

 

[porteryork]

Okay, I agree with crtrlover, 2 -4 inches are best. When they are small I love to just wash them, DO NOT CUT and then toss them in a little olive oil with garlic, sautee until they are bright green about 5 minutes and then dig in. I have turned even the worst okra hater into a fan with this.

Michelle

 

[cackle]

Quote:
I agree. I love okra anyway you cook it. My mom use to lay a few on top of a pan of blackeyed peas right before she served them, she may have cooked them a few minutes until tender. I don't do this because my DH would refuse to eat the peas. He would think I had ruined them. He will only eat okra in gumbo. Go figure.

 

[MissPrissy]

I love peas with okra. I also love it on the side pickled! MMMM mmmmm!

 

[Katy]

All this okra talk is making me hungry for some....and I didn't plant any this year.