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    Home » Vegetable Recipes » Grilled Okra

    Grilled Okra

    Last updated: May 22, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    Delicious grilled okra is ready in just a few minutes, and the grilling eliminates any sliminess.

    Serve it alone as a flavorful side dish, or pair it with a tasty dipping sauce and serve it as a snack.

    Grilled okra served on a white plate with forks.

    I love okra. I suspect it's a bit like cilantro in that people either really like it or strongly dislike it. The most common objection is that it has a slimy texture. Okra is slimy because it contains mucilage, which is heat-activated. So if you don't cook it properly, it can have an unpleasant texture.

    Luckily, there are cooking methods that greatly reduce sliminess. One of them is roasting. Another one is to actually take advantage of the mucilage and use okra in thick stews such as this okra stew. And the third one is grilling, as we do here.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need five simple ingredients to make grilled okra. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Fresh okra: Okra is in season in the summer, so that's when you are most likely to find it in the supermarket. I don't recommend using frozen.

    Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. But if you'd rather use an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead. Melted ghee is another tasty option.

    To season: Kosher Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the dish could end up too salty. I actually prefer using garlic powder to using fresh garlic, as I feel that it better coats the okra.

    Instructions

    Grilling okra is so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    1. Your first step is to heat up your grill on medium-high heat. I usually grill indoors, using either a double-burner cast-iron grill pan (as shown in the video below) or a George Foreman grill. But you can obviously use an outdoor grill.

    2. Next, trim the okra on both ends and toss it with olive oil and spices. There's no need to slice it for this recipe.

    3. Grill the okra until tender and browned, turning frequently, for a total of about 10 minutes (or about 5 minutes if using a dual-contact grill).

    A photo collage showing the steps for grilling okra.

    Frequently asked questions

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

    That's one of the best things about using your grill. Just like roasting, grilling eliminates most of the sliminess typical to this vegetable.

    Growing up, I had a friend whose mom was an amazing cook. I often went to that friend's house after school, hoping to eat lunch at his house. One of her best recipes was stewed okra and tomatoes.

    Indeed, cooking okra with tomatoes helps to reduce the sliminess. But the same goal is achieved when using high-heat cooking techniques such as roasting or grilling.

    What's the best way to serve okra?

    It's very good on its own, as a side dish. You can also serve it with a simple dipping sauce - mix 4 TBS mayo with 1 TBS Dijon mustard and 1 TBS ketchup.

    So what main dish to serve it with? Since I use the grill for making this recipe, I often serve it with a grilled main dish such as grilled chicken skewers, grilled chicken tenders, or grilled halibut.

    Can you keep leftover okra?

    Yes. You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. They actually keep very well. Reheat them gently, in the microwave on 50% power. And don't tell anyone, but I sometimes snack on them cold!

    Variations

    This is such a basic recipe - not too many variations here. But if you'd like, you could add more spices. So in addition to garlic powder, you could use a little onion powder, and just a pinch of cumin. It goes very nicely with okra.

    Serving suggestions

    Okra goes well with many protein-based main dishes. It's good with beef, poultry, and fish. I like to serve it with grilled main dishes such as skirt steak, grilled chicken breast, and grilled shrimp.

    Grilled okra served on a plate with utensils and a napkin.

    Related recipes

    • Okra stew served in a white saucepan.
      Okra Stew
    • Roasted okra served on a white plate.
      Roasted Okra
    • Grilled broccolini served on a dark plate with a fork.
      Grilled Broccolini
    • Grilled eggplant slices served on a white plate.
      Grilled Eggplant

    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Grilled okra served on a white plate with a napkin.
    4.96 from 125 votes
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    Grilled Okra with Olive Oil and Garlic

    Delicious grilled okra is ready in just a few minutes, and the grilling eliminates the sliminess typical to this tasty vegetable. Serve it alone, or with a tasty dipping sauce.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 115kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. fresh okra (350 grams after trimming)
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (use less if using fine salt)
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    • Heat your grill on medium-high. You can use a dual-contact indoor grill such as a George Foreman grill, a grill pan like I do in the video below, or an outdoor grill.
    • Rinse the okra and dry it using a clean kitchen towel. Trim the ends.
    • Place the okra in a large bowl and toss it with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
    • Transfer to the hot grill. Grill until tender, 5 minutes if using a George Foreman grill, or a total of 10 minutes, turning requently, if using a grill pan or an outdoor grill.

    Video

    Notes

    Grilled okra is very good on its own, as a side dish. You can also serve it with a simple dipping sauce - mix 4 TBS mayo with 1 TBS Dijon mustard and 1 TBS ketchup.
    If you'd like, you could add more spices. So in addition to garlic powder, you could use a little onion powder, and just a pinch of cumin. It goes very nicely with okra.

    Add Your Own Notes

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 0.3recipe | Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 186mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g
    SubscribeI aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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