When people think of okra (whose fruit looks like a woman's slender fingers), they often think of okra as a slimy, hard-to-eat vegetable and tend to avoid it. While the texture of okra is "indeed" a little slimy, those who know how to prepare it properly know that this vegetable is worth eating and enjoying.
Many chefs don't find out more about okra because of their bad experiences with this vegetable, or perhaps because they are influenced by other people's opinions. But when you learn how to prepare okra, your opinion of this delicious vegetable will change completely. In this article, you will find out how to prepare okra.
Ingredients
- Okra
- Egg
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cornstarch
Step
Method 1 of 3: Obtaining and Selecting Okra
Step 1. Get okra
You can buy okra from many fruit and vegetable suppliers. Just make sure the okra you choose is still fresh.
While it can be difficult to harvest okra that you grow yourself, it's still possible to do and it won't be expensive either
Step 2. Choose okra that has an even green color and is about 5 - 10 cm long
Okra that is too long will have a bland taste and may be too tough to eat, while okra that is too small will be difficult to cook.
- Avoid okra, which looks wrinkled and soft when pressed.
- Okra should break more easily than bend.
Method 2 of 3: Basic Preparation for Okra
Step 1. Cut the ends of the stems
Make the cuts without injuring the okra skin itself. The cone-shaped stem attached to the okra shell can be carefully cut around the perimeter to remove it from the okra if desired. Peel off a thin layer of okra with your fingers. By doing this, the whole okra can be eaten, although it will take a little longer.
Step 2. Remove okra fluff
Fluffing on okra is not necessary before cooking young okra. That said, here's how to get rid of it from old okra:
- Remove okra fluff under running water. Gently scrub the okra skin with a soft nylon bristled brush, tissue or vegetable brush.
- Pat the okra dry with a clean cloth or place it in the open air.
Step 3. Prevent okra from getting slimy while cooking
This can be done by adding vinegar to the okra, although you should be able to do this well beforehand.
- Pour half a cup of vinegar into a bowl for every 500g of okra.
- Gently sprinkle the vinegar over the surface of the okra until it coats all of the okra in the bowl.
- Let the okra sit for 30 minutes in the vinegar.
- Remove okra and rinse thoroughly. Dry and use according to the recipe.
Step 4. Know how to prepare okra for different dishes
There are several different ways to prepare okra depending on how it's cooked:
- Slice okra into equal-sized pieces for Cajun and Creole stews (such as gumbo) that thicken with okra after adding them at the end.
- Cut them into pieces or leave them whole to fry them (see steps below).
- Leave whole (but clean and prepare) okra for stew and casserole if the recipe calls for this. If okra is cooked whole, it won't be able to release its sticky compounds.
- If using it as a thickener, soak the whole okra first. Chop the okra and put it in the dish 10 minutes before the cooking time is over.
Step 5. Toss garlic and season with okra
Okra tastes great with eggplant, onions, peppers and tomatoes.
Method 3 of 3: Frying Okra
Step 1. Cut the stems
This part is a tough part with a weak taste. See instructions above.
Step 2. Cut the okra into 6.35mm pieces
If you cut it too wide, it will take longer for the okra to ripen.
Step 3. Beat the eggs and soak the okra in it for 5 to 10 minutes
Step 4. While the okra is soaking, put about a cup of cornstarch in a bowl along with the salt and pepper
Don't use wheat flour as it will clump and the okra will become mushy.
Step 5. After soaking for a while, dip the okra pieces into the cornstarch, coating the entire surface evenly
Step 6. Heat about 1/2 cup of oil in a frying pan over medium to high heat
Step 7. When the oil is hot, carefully add the okra to it
Step 8. Stir to make sure the okra doesn't burn
When the okra turns golden, remove and place on paper towels to absorb any remaining oil. Enjoy!
Step 9. Done
Tips
- Okra is used in many types of cuisine such as Creole, Cajun, Indian, Caribbean, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines.
- Okra can be used in soups.
- Before trying other okra recipes, try the fried okra recipe in this article. This way of cooking okra is a great way to get used to the taste and texture of okra, and is often the best way to prepare okra.
- If not harvested immediately, the tops of the okra can become woody. When eating okra alone, you can use this part as a handle, bite the okra up to the top and then throw it away.
Warning
- Be careful when putting okra in hot oil. The oil can splash and injure you.
- Gently prepare okra.
