Not having grown up in the south I wasn't exposed to okra until my college years when I moved to Tennessee. From the first I loved it - that is if it was fried! If it was boiled or steamed the sliminess was just too much for my taste buds, but over the years I have come to love this southern delicacy. That is if it is baked or lightly steamed (I still can't stomach the thought of it boiled). In fact, I take great delight and pleasure in showing people that okra can be delicious and nutritious! We have lots of company and many times I have had the opportunity to show someone who thinks they hate okra that it really can be cooked in a way that is delicious. It's really quite simple -
Yummy Baked Okra
Place the okra in a bowl. (without cutting the tops off and opening up the inner cells)
Drizzle oil on the okra and add seasonings
Here is what we use: Salt, Nutritional Yeast Flakes, Onion powder & garlic powder (oil, season and toss x2)
Place okra in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees 15-20 min (until they are soft and fork prongs easily pierce the skin - some like them more tough but I prefer them softer)
Enjoy this yummy finger food!
