ah, sweet okra. Can anyone really say they had a good time in the American South without tasting it? Word alone can conjure up memories of okra served hot from the pan, the rusk-coated coating still filling your tongue.
Okra is not just a staple food in the American South. It is popular all over the world, especially in North African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. Rooted vegetables that span a large area of the globe mean there is plenty of variation in the ways they are presented, and it’s music to any gastronome’s ears.
But there’s something you might not know about okra: the vegetable It is a particularly good source of magnesiumIt is a nutrient that the vast majority of people in the United States do not have access to. Magnesium is a very important nutrient responsible for energy production, protein synthesis, muscle contraction and nerve signaling, bone mineralization, and glucose control, nutritionist Whitney English Tabai, MS, RDN, CPT, told Well + Good. But another reason for the importance of magnesium is that it Helps promote good sleep.
As if you needed another reason to work okra in your dinner rotation, right? The fact that you can use vegetables to prepare a dinner that supports bedtime habits is a big win. Rounded up here are ten okra recipes to try for sweet, hopefully sweeter dreams.
10 okra recipes ready to help you meet your magnesium needs:
1. Chicken, shrimp and okra okra
This recipe has everything you want in okra: lots of protein, veggies, and tons of spices. (Pro tip: Don’t skimp on the Creole seasoning.) In it, okra is cooked right in a seasoned tomato sauce with chicken, shrimp, and green onions. It’s a dish that takes a few hours to come together, but the end result is well worth it.
Get the recipe: Chicken, shrimp, jumbo okra
2. Cameroonian okra soup
Blogger Precious Core and recipe developer Precious Meshi Nkeih grew up in Cameroon eating this earthy soup, which she says is one of her children’s favorite dishes. Besides okra, it is made with fish and watermelon (also known as watermelon seed). Layers of smoked seafood, walnut seeds, and vegetable okra create a perfectly balanced harmony when stirred together. She recommends serving the soup with fufu corn or mashed potatoes.
Get the recipe: Cameroonian okra soup
3. Mediterranean style okra
Bamia (also known as ‘okra’) is a thick okra stew with a rich, strong flavour. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, and jalapenos are cooked right with the magnesium-rich veggies, and everything is washed with paprika, cilantro, and spices. One tip to keep in mind when preparing this dish is to stir in the okra before adding the tomatoes. This will ensure that the vegetables are crisp and not sticky.
Get the recipe: Mediterranean style okra
4. Middle Eastern Okra
Another delicious okra recipe, this dish mixes okra with meat, tomato paste, garlic and – here the real main ingredient – pomegranate molasses. The end result is a delicious stew with a hint of sweetness. Full of protein and fiber, it’s perfect for a main course and tastes delicious over rice.
Get the recipe: middle eastern okra
5. Okra la Mexicana
While okra isn’t always seen in Mexican cooking, Nancy Lopez-McHugh, Mexican meat-based blogger and recipe developer, says it does appear in some dishes, particularly in northern Mexico. Here, you use it as a mainstay for a simple side dish. The only other ingredients you need are olive oil, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and jalapeños. It only takes 15 minutes to make.
Get the recipe: Okra La Mexicana
6. Oven Roasted Okra
If you’re looking for a fuss-free okra recipe, this is the perfect simple dish to bookmark. Here, you will be cooking okra in the oven, which is healthier than frying And the Avoids the possible sticky texture that can occur from over-boiling. Seasoned with a few key spices, this delicious dish is the perfect way to enjoy your vegetables.
Get the recipe: Oven Roasted Okra
7. Indian Crunchy Okra
This recipe includes another genius tip to ensure the okra comes out crunchy, not sticky: After rinsing it, let it dry completely on a paper towel before tossing it in the pan. why? Because frying the okra completely dry is key. Cook with ghee, turmeric, cumin seeds, ginger, onion, and serrano peppers, and you have the perfect crunchy side.
Get the recipe: Crispy Indian Okra
8. Spicy okra for 15 minutes
Garnish okra with spicy soy sauce and tofu for a Szechuan-influenced meal. Requiring few ingredients and 15 minutes, it is very easy to make. It can be enjoyed hot or cold. It will taste great either way.
Get the recipe: Hot okra 15 minutes
9. Fried okra with garlic, chili and lime
This is another okra dish full of flavor that assembles in just 15 minutes. Coconut oil as a base adds a touch of sweetness right from the start. Garlic, ginger, shallots, cilantro, red peppers, cloves, and toasted sesame seeds add to the flavor even more.
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Get the recipe: Fried okra with garlic, chili and lemon
10. Baked Greek Okra and Tomatoes
If you’re a fan of Greek food, you’ve probably made a lot of dishes that combine tomatoes and feta together. Why not add some okra to the mix? This recipe shows exactly how to do it with delicious results.
Get the recipe: Okra and tomato baked in Greece
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