How to Cook Okra

Co-authored by Dorrenda Smith

Okra is a nutritious vegetable that can be cooked by boiling or frying. Regardless of your cooking method, wash and slice your okra first. You can boil okra in slightly salted water. You can coat okra in cornmeal and then fry it in a frying pan. Okra can be slimy. Adding lemon to your water and drying your okra before cooking can prevent sliminess.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Okra Ready to Cook

1
Wash your okra using tap water. Always wash fresh produce before eating it. Run your okra under tap water, turning it as necessary, to clean all sides. Shake off the okra to dry or dab it dry with paper towels.^{[1]
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2
Slice your okra. Start by slicing and discarding the stems on either end.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Dorrenda Smith
Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.} Then, slice the okra into thin, round slices.^{[3]
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- Use a chef's knife or paring knife to slice the okra.
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3
Soak the okra in vinegar. Okra sometimes comes out a little slimy. To prevent this, soak your okra slices in vinegar after cutting them. Combine a cup of vinegar with a quart of water. Immerse your okra in this mixture. Allow it to soak for one hour.^{[4]
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4
Dry your okra completely. Do not cook wet okra. This can contribute to sliminess. Let okra air dry on a paper towel. If you need to cook your okra fast, you can pat it down with paper towel until it dries.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Boiling Okra

1
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Lightly salt as much water as you need to submerge all your okra. Place your pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil.^{[6]
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- Try drizzling some lemon juice in the water. Some people find this cuts down on sliminess and it can also add some flavor.^{[7]
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2
Cook the okra in the water. Once your water is boiling, add your okra to the sauce pan. Cover the pan and set a timer. Okra takes between 8 and 10 minutes to cook.^{[8]
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- Okra should be soft and tender when it's done cooking.
3
Drain the okra. Make sure you get all the water out. Use a colander to drain out all the water. Shake the colander if necessary to get out excess water. Okra is prone to sliminess, so keep it as dry as possible.^{[9]
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4
Season the okra. Okra can be seasoned with a little butter, salt, and pepper. Boiled okra does not require a lot of seasoning, but if you prefer a particular flavor profile you can season the okra how you want. For example, you can add dried basil and garlic to your okra.^{[10]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Frying Okra

1
Prepare a coating. Fried okra should be coated in flour, cornmeal, salt, and any spices you want.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Dorrenda Smith
Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.} Mix half a cup of flour, half a cup of cornmeal, and half a teaspoon of salt together. Then, add a quarter teaspoon of any spices you want, such as black pepper or cayenne pepper.^{[12]
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- You should also prepare a liquid to coat the okra in first so the coating sticks. Beat one egg together with one egg with a tablespoon of milk.
2
Heat your oil. Coat a pan with a light amount of cooking oil such as olive oil.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Dorrenda Smith
Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.} Heat the the pan over medium high heat for a few minutes.^{[14]
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- To check if the oil is ready, toss a small bit of food into the pan. If it sizzles, the oil is ready to use.
3
Coat your okra. One by one, coat your pieces of okra. Set them aside on a plate until they're all coated. Dip the okra in the egg milk mixture. Then, dip it in the flour mixture until all sides are evenly coated.^{[15]
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4
Cook the okra. Add as much okra to the oil as fits. Pieces of okra should not touch and have a little space around one another. Fry the okra for three to four minutes per side.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Dorrenda Smith
Personal Chef
Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.} Each side of the okra should be golden brown by the time it's done cooking.^{[17]
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5
Remove the okra. Use a slotted spoon to remove okra from the oil. Place your okra on a plate covered in paper towel. Allow the okra to cool for a few minutes before eating.^{[18]
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6
Finished.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you cook okra so it isn't slimy?

Dorrenda Smith
Personal Chef
Dorrenda “Renny” Smith is a Personal Chef and the Co-Founder & CEO of The Crain Experience. With almost 15 years of experience in the food industry, she specializes in creating soul food with a healthier spin. Chef Renny and her partner provide event catering, event planning, and restaurant and food truck consultations.

Dorrenda Smith

Personal Chef

Expert Answer

Fry the okra for about one to two minutes, as that process allows the mucous membrane around the seeds to break down.
Question

Can I drink water the water after boiling okra?

Fear.of.moths

Community Answer

Don't drink it while it's boiling, but once cooled down, it is safe to consume.
Question

How do I cook orka corn and tomatoes the Southern style way?

Community Answer

Heat a skillet with bacon grease over medium-high heat until hot. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add some chopped onions and cook until just beginning to turn translucent. Add pre-treated okra and sauté 2-3 minutes. Then add fresh or thawed frozen corn and chopped tomatoes and sauté over medium-low heat 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. If more moisture is needed, add a few tablespoons of vegetable stock. I like mine spicy so I add some tomato paste and Creole seasoning to taste (and a few pinches of sugar and salt until I get what I like!).