Our Best Okra Recipes Will Prove That It's Not Just for Gumbo

By Southern Living
June 27, 2011
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Whether fried, pickled, or grilled, no other vegetable tastes quite like okra. Every Southerner has their favorite okra dish, and we’ve rounded up the best okra recipes we could find to showcase this traditional Southern veggie. Try Pickled Okra for an addictive, tangy treat. Add another popular Southern ingredient and you have our Fried Pecan Okra, which uses crushed pecans to make a crisp outer coating. Get out the grill, and make okra an easy and delicious appetizer with our recipe for Peppery Grilled Okra with Lemon-Basil Dipping Sauce. From main dishes to sides, our best okra recipes offer creative, tasty options for every day of the week. With the help of these okra ideas—and a few inspired flavors—we think you’ll find a new family-favorite okra recipe to share at your table this summer.
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Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

Cooking in two skillets, or two batches, will allow the okra to get extra crispy.

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Okra and Rice Casserole

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole

This casserole is simple to make, but is still packed with an amazing amount of flavor.

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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

Two Southern classics come together to create one delicious dish.

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Field Peas, Corn, and Okra in Country-Ham Cream

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Field Peas, Corn, and Okra in Country-Ham Cream

Serve these fresh summer veggies alongside skillet cornbread for a meal to remember.

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Classic Okra and Tomatoes

Southern Living

Recipe: Classic Okra and Tomatoes

This essential summer side is the perfect pair.

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Skillet-Roasted Okra and Shrimp

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Skillet-Roasted Okra and Shrimp

Adapted from Virginia Willis' book, Okra, published by The University of North Carolina Press, this fast sauté is great over grits or a bed of arugula.

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Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

A mixture of lemon juice, hot sauce, and melted butter pack these kebabs with flavor.

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Okra-and-Potato Hash

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Okra-and-Potato Hash

If you don’t' have all these spices in your pantry, salt and pepper will work just fine.

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Charred Okra

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Charred Okra

Store precooked okra in the fridge in a zip-top plastic bag.

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Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce

A tangy tomato sauce lightly covers the fresh ingredients in this recipe.

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Roasted Potato-and-Okra Salad

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Roasted Potato-and-Okra Salad

This side dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

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Fried Pecan Okra

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Fried Pecan Okra

Crushed pecans and baking mix form the crisp breading for this classic Southern-style side.

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Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Southern Living

Recipe: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Even though this dinner is made in one pot, it makes 12 servings.

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Okra Panzanella

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Okra Panzanella

A colorful blend of fried okra, chopped fresh tomatoes, red onion, and fresh basil make Okra Panzanella a delicious choice for a savory Southern dish.

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Pickled Okra

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pickled Okra

Savor summer's fresh okra for months to come by pickling the veggies with this delicious recipe and four easy steps.

How To Pickle Okra

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Smashed Fried Okra

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Smashed Fried Okra

What a revelation! Use a meat mallet to smash okra and create more surface area for crispy-brown goodness. Try this at home.

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Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra

Use your grill to elevate the flavor of these fresh ingredients.

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Tomato-and-Okra Cornmeal Cakes

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Tomato-and-Okra Cornmeal Cakes

Choose tomatoes that are about 1½ inches in diameter. If okra isn't quite in season, you can leave it out. Also, in place of pimiento cheese, you can try soft goat cheese, sheep's milk ricotta, or whipped cream cheese.

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Pickled Okra and Shrimp Salad

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pickled Okra and Shrimp Salad

Pickled okra and shrimp make a perfect combination for a fresh salad. Try this recipe for dinner tonight with a side of cheesy French bread.

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Okra-and-Corn Maque Choux

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Okra-and-Corn Maque Choux

Use fresh corn and okra in this Maque Choux dish for best results. If you don't like spicy food you can easily sub the hot sausage for a milder version to fit your tastes.

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Shrimp-and-Okra Hush Puppies

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Shrimp-and-Okra Hush Puppies

Creole seasoning, okra, and shrimp add a delightful Southern taste and texture to these addictive cornbread bites.

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Fried Okra Salad

Recipe: Fried Okra Salad

Recipe: Lemon Dressing

Fried okra serves as a salad topping in this recipe. Finish with crumbled bacon and a homemade Lemon Dressing.

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Okra Creole

Recipe: Okra Creole

Serve flavorful Okra Creole with bacon, veggies, and spices as a side or over rice for an easy entrée.

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Peppery Grilled Okra With Lemon-Basil Dipping Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Peppery Grilled Okra with Lemon-Basil Dipping Sauce

Grilling really brings out the flavor of this favorite Southern side. Serve the grilled okra on wooden skewers with a side of Lemon-Basil Dipping Sauce.

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Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup

Okra can be enjoyed year-round.

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Best-Ever Succotash

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Best-Ever Succotash

The ultimate summer side: succotash.

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