Veggie Spotlight: Okra
Okra is one of Oklahoma’s favorite green vegetables. Get to know this crisp and crunchy vegetable by making it part of dinner! Okra is in-season July through October but you can also find it frozen all year-long.
Okra Varieties
Okra is a green, finger-shaped vegetable that can be eaten raw, steamed, cooked, fried, or in stews. It has a similar mild taste as eggplant, but with a different texture. Depending on how you cook okra it can have a different taste and texture.
How to Store Okra
Fresh okra should be stored carefully because they can bruise very easily. When storing okra in the fridge, wrap them in a paper towel or place in a plastic bag, and store in the vegetable drawer. Do not wash okra until you are ready to use it. They can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days. Okra can also be frozen to help keep them fresh longer. Simply place the whole okra in a pot of boiling water for no more than 1 minute. Place the drained okra in a freezer-safe plastic bag or container, and freeze. Okra kept in the freezer will last about 2-3 months.
Okra Nutrition
Okra is a good source of fiber, folate, and vitamin K. There are many ways to eat okra, and ONIE has some great recipes.
Okie Shrimp and Okra
This is the perfect seafood meal to make that takes less than 30 minutes and is delicious. This recipe uses only 9 ingredients and 4 easy steps! It can be made with fresh or frozen okra. There is no need to thaw frozen okra before cooking. Simply add the frozen okra pieces to the skillet as instructed. Frozen okra may cook more quickly than fresh okra. Here are all of the ingredients and steps:
Ingredients
- 2 cups instant brown rice
- 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1/2 lb fresh okra, sliced
- 1 large bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb frozen peeled & deveined shrimp
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
Preparation
- Prepare rice according to package directions. Fluff with fork & set aside.
- In a large, deep skillet, heat 2 Tbsp oil over medium-high. Add okra & pepper. Cook 4-5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add tomatoes & cook 2-3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl.
- Add remaining oil, garlic, shrimp & red pepper flakes to skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes or until shrimp is fully cooked. Stir in okra mixture & cook 1-2 minutes or until warm.
- Serve over rice & top with parsley.
Check out this 1-minute video on how to make Okie Shrimp and Okra step-by-step!
