18 Okra Recipes That Are Hearty and Heartwarming

Okra has been grown in the tropical regions of Africa for centuries and is a traditional food used in West African cooking and Southern cuisine. The crunchy vegetable can be found in soup, gumbo, okra pilau, fried okra and okra stew. It’s fresh, earthy and slightly sweet, and develops a more complex, nutty flavor the longer it cooks. Okra maintains a crunchy texture when cooked quickly, but turns fork tender when cooking low and slow. No matter how you cook it, it’s a versatile ingredient with mild flavor that pairs perfectly with a variety of ingredients.

Whether you’re looking for crunchy okra fries or slowly braised okra stew, we’ve rounded up our favorite okra recipes for any type of occasion.

Hearty stews typically simmer on the stove all day long, but this version can be ready in just under an hour. Beef sirloin gets cut into cubes then simmered in beef stock, tomato sauce, garlic and onions. Frozen okra is the shortcut to making this beef and okra stew so quick and convenient.

Highlighting the best summer vegetables is easy to do with this fun pasta salad. It's great for picnics, potlucks or for just keeping around in the fridge to have as an easy side dish or quick lunch. A homemade creamy basil vinaigrette adds the perfect amount of tanginess to complement the veggies.

Pickling is an easy way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables, so it’s a great technique to use with excess okra. Not only does the pickling liquid infuse the okra with bright, tangy flavor, it also helps preserve a crunchy, crisp texture. Turmeric helps add bright color and complex flavor.

You might have heard of Hoppin’ John, a mix of black-eyed peas, rice and salty cured pork. The dish, introduced by West African enslaved people in the coastal South, dates back centuries and is thought to be named after a disabled street vendor in Charleston, SC. But there’s a lesser-known spin-off made with okra, called Limpin’ Susan, and it’s just as tasty.