How to Remove Okra Slime
It is summer in Texas, and I have okra coming out of my ears! We love okra, so there is never a worry about allowing this wonderful vegetable to go waste.
Single day Okra harvest!
The interesting part about home grown okra vs. store bought is that the former does not have the slime when chopped. Don’t know the science associated with this, but perhaps the goop forms when the vegetable is cut and stored? Or perhaps when okra is not picked young? Anyway, one website I came upon said that a trick to reduce sliminess is to first soak the cut okra in vinegar for 30 mins before cooking it. Rinse it and pat dry before cooking. Alternatively, you can pre-cook okra at very high heat before adding the cooked okra to your recipe and there will be hardly any slime at all. Hmm, too much work.
The No Slime Secret
The cool part about this recipe is that you can make this dish with store bought okra and it will be sans slime. The secret is to bake the okra. It’s an ingenious strategy…there is no need to marinate the okra in salt and vinegar beforehand. It develops a wonderful seared flavor in the hot oven, and it won’t be gooey. Try it. This is a great way of consuming a ton of veggies in one go, while thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Okra Flower
If you love okra as much as we do, try out our:
- Bhendi (Okra) Masala
- Bhindi Okra ki Bhujia
- Sauteed Okra
- Crispy, Air-Fried Masala Okra
- Spicy Buttermilk Soup
If you love baked dishes, we have several for you to try out as well.
- Crunchy Baked Plantain Chips
- Vegan Spicy Baked Eggplant
- Baked Spicy Chicken Curry
- Sowmya’s Baked Salmon
- Cabbage Wada: Savory Cabbage Lentil Bites
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Black-eyed Peas
Okra contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. It is low in calories and has high dietary fiber content. Recent studies suggest that okra also helps manage blood sugar in cases of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Baking this dish with low oil content helps preserve most nutrients.
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Baked Okra
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Okra - Rinsed, Top Cut off
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper - Fresh, Ground
- 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Methi Leaves - Dry (Kasuri Methi Leaves)
- 1/4 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt - Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Lime Juice - or Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil - Extra Virgin
Instructions
- Wash okra, and dry them with a clean towel. Chop the tops off. Cut okra lengthwise
- Add salt, pepper powder, turmeric powder, kasuri methi leaves, cumin powder, coriander powder and red chilli powder and oil.
- Mix well with a fork so okra slices are coated with oil and spices
- Bake in oven at 350F for 20 mins, turn the okra pieces over once and bake for an additional 20 mins; remove from oven and drizzle lemon/lime juice and serve Note: Baking time will vary depending on your oven, so check frequently
How much of the nutrients would still be left after the cooking?
Great question, and thanks for your inquiry. Most databases usually list the nutrition value of uncooked okra, but I found this website which shows the calories in cooked okra (well, ours is baked, not cooked, but should come close). Take a look: https://tools.myfooddata.com/nutrition-facts.php?food=169261&serv=wt9
Let me know if you have any follow-up questions.