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Home » Recipe Index » Oven Baked Recipes

Roasted Okra

Published: Jul 4, 2023 · Modified: Aug 19, 2024 by Tanya · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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My Crispy Roasted Okra is a classic Southern side dish. In a few steps I show you how to cook okra in the oven, with a simple spice blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika. This is one of those easy side dishes you will come back to again and again.

A white serving platter with roasted okra.


 

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

Oven roasted okra features regularly in my family meal planning, as this easy side dish can be prepared, cooked and on the table in just 25 minutes. Okra is great at absorbing flavor so I like to add extra layers of subtle spicing, before roasting the okra in the oven.

The main complaint with okra is that it can be slimy. So, if you've not cooked okra before, but would like to give it a try it, this is a great place to start, as there is nothing slimy about this side dish.

Roasted in the oven, this okra has a lot of flavor and a bit of crispiness. It's the perfect easy and tasty side dish.

For a completely different way to cook okra, try my Stewed Okra and Tomatoes.

Ingredients

Here's what you will need to make the best roasted okra:

  • Okra - fresh okra, sliced into ½ inch pieces.
  • Olive oil - or similar flavored oil.
  • Kosher salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Black pepper
  • Smoked paprika
Roasted okra recipe ingredients.

How to roast okra

Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). 

Wash and thoroughly dry the okra, before slicing into ½ inch pieces.

Whole okra being dried on a kitchen towel.
A chopping board with knife and whole and sliced okra, with a silver bowl of sliced okra pieces set alongside.

Place the sliced okra in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the okra, ensuring all pieces are coated. Next, sprinkle the kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika over the okra. Toss everything together until the okra is evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.

A silver bowl filled with sliced okra, covered in a blend of salt and spices.

Spread the okra pieces in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast the okra for 15-18 minutes or until the okra is tender and lightly browned. You can stir or flip the okra halfway through cooking to ensure even roasting, but this is optional.

An oven proof baking sheet with pieces of spiced okra spread over.

 Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the okra cool for a few minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

A baking sheet with roasted okra.

Expert Tips

These tips will help you make the best roasted okra you've ever tried. 

  • Make sure the okra is dry before roasting for best results.
  • Use regular olive oil to roast okra, rather than extra virgin olive oil which has too low a burn temperature.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.
  • Lay the okra out in a single layer on the baking sheet, you want it to roast, not steam in the oven.

Flavor variations

  • I've used olive oil, but sunflower oil, avocado oil, or a similar oil will work too.
  • Adapt the spicing to suit your tastes, add ground cumin or coriander.
  • If you like your food extra spicy, add some red pepper flakes.
  • I prefer to use fresh okra, if using frozen okra try and find pre-cut slices, as it's very hard to chop okra when it's frozen. Also if using frozen okra I recommend adding an extra 10-12 minutes in the oven to allow it time to crisp up.

How to serve roasted okra

Oven roasted okra is a great side dish, I will often serve it with a wedge of fresh lemon to squeeze over. Crispy roasted okra is great with Southern dishes like my Southern Meatloaf, or my Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp.

I also serve okra alongside turkey burgers or grilled meats, or for something a little different try is with spicy dishes like my Jamaican Curry Shrimp.

A white serving platter with roasted okra.

How to store

To refrigerate: Roasted okra is a vegetable that is best served hot from the oven. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

To freeze: Once cooked and cooled, place the okra into an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy you can cook in a hot oven from frozen.

FAQs

What does okra taste like?

Okra has a lovely fresh, grassy, slightly sweet flavor.

How do you cook okra so it's not slimy?

The trick when cooking okra is to make sure you get it nice and dry before you start cooking. Leave any moisture there and it will be slimy. I wash and thoroughly dry okra before cooking it, and I like to roast okra in the oven, which results in crispy okra every time.

Is okra a fruit or a vegetable?

Although treated like a vegetable in terms of how it is flavored and cooked, Okra is actually a fruit. It is the seed pod of the plant.

If you have tried this roasted okra recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

A white serving platter with roasted okra.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Roasted Okra Recipe

Crispy Roasted Okra is a classic Southern side dish. In a few steps you are shown how to cook okra in the oven, with a simple spice blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword crispy roasted okra, easy oven roasted okra, oven roasted okra, roasted okra
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 25 minutes minutes
Servings 4
Calories 103kcal
Author Tanya
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 lb fresh okra rinsed, dried, and sliced in ½ inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C).
  • Place the sliced okra in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the okra, ensuring all pieces are coated. Next, sprinkle the kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika over the okra. Toss everything together until the okra is evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.
  • Spread the okra pieces out in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast the okra for 15-18 minutes, or until the okra is tender and lightly browned. You can stir or flip the okra halfway through cooking to ensure even roasting, but this isn't essential.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the okra cool for a few minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Video

Notes

Make sure the okra is dry before roasting for best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 590mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 936IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 1mg
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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

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Comments

    4.67 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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  1. Beth McClure says

    September 07, 2024 at 4:29 pm

    Have you tried this in the air fryer? If so, time and temp please.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      September 09, 2024 at 9:00 am

      Hi Beth, I haven't tried this in my air fryer yet, but if I were to, I'd just air fry it at 400F for about 10-12 minutes, checking and shaking it ever so often.

      Reply
  2. Christiana Johnson says

    April 19, 2024 at 2:34 pm

    Just tried the Roasted Okra. It is delicious! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      April 21, 2024 at 8:43 am

      Thanks Christiana! So happy you like the okra recipe.

      Reply

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Welcome to My Forking Life! Hi, I'm Tanya, attorney, busy wife and mom, and lover of quick, easy, and delicious meals.

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