Using just a few everyday simple ingredients, you’ll be able to make an easy, refreshing okra side dish in no time! Okra is one of my favourite kinds of vegetables and it takes just 1-2 minutes to cook them. Simply make the seasoning sauce and mix it with the cooked okra, this delicious, flavourful side dish will be ready to serve.
Crunchy on the outside with okra’s gooey slime and seeds popping in your mouth, each bite is a delightful symphony of textures and tastes. With just the right amount of seasoning to enhance the natural goodness of okra, this dish is sure to become a favourite at your table.
Table of contents
What makes this cold side dish so good
- Quick and easy: Taking less than 15 minutes to make, this side dish recipe uses everyday easy ingredients and only a few simple steps.
- A perfect hot-weather dish: Using a mix of vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and minced garlic, this dish is full of savoury flavours with a touch of sourness, making it incredibly refreshing and appetising!
- Packed with health benefits: Okra is a versatile vegetable that is packed full of nutritional values. On top of its beneficial nutrients, this recipe cooks okra in a healthy method by boiling.
What is okra?
Okra, sometimes called “lady’s finger”, is a plant with edible seed pots. It has its own unique flavours and textures. It has a mild, slightly grassy flavour, with a crunchy exterior and a slimy, gooey texture at the interior. Its sliminess comes from a soluble fibre known as mucilage, which is a sugar residue that acts as a thickener for stews or gumbos. Some people might be put off by the okra slime, so it’s a love-it-or-hate-it texture! To reduce the sliminess, you can soak the okra pods with acid, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or chopped tomatoes, before cooking to help dissolve the slime. Quick roasting or cooking over high heat for a short amount of time also helps minimise the sliminess.
Health benefits of okra
Okra is rich in antioxidants, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, and is low in calories. Containing beneficial nutrients, okra promotes heart health and blood sugar management, boosts bone health, and improves digestion, making it a superfood that helps reduce serious health conditions.
Ingredients for easy, refreshing okra
- Okra: This recipe uses 1 whole chicken breast.
- Soy sauce: The key ingredient that gives the dish a savoury flavour.
- Chinkiang vinegar: I used Chinkiang vinegar for seasoning as it contains a sour flavour with an additional touch of savouriness. If you don’t have Chinkiang vinegar, you can substitute with 2 tsp rice or wine vinegar + 1 tsp soy sauce for every 1 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar.
- Sugar: This neutralises the sour flavour and enhances the overall flavour profile of the dish.
- Garlic: This boosts the flavour of the dish and gives a rich aroma.
- Sesame oil: This adds a healthy dash of flavour to the dish and makes it more aromatic and fragrant.
- Onion: This is used for garnishing the dish. Raw onions add a sharp, slightly sweet and spicy taste to create an added refreshness to the side dish.
- Coarse salt: Coarse salt is used for rubbing the okra exterior during preparation. This helps remove the fuzz to make its colour more vivid and helps soften the texture as well.
How to make easy, refreshing okra
- Prepare the okra – rub the exterior with coarse salt, rinse with water, and chop off the tips.
- Boil the okra for 1-2 minutes.
- Prepare the seasoning sauce while cooking the okra. Mix together Chinkiang vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and minced garlic.
- Drain the okra, pour over the seasoning sauce, and mix well.
- Garnish with some sliced raw onions (optional).
That’s how quick and easy it is to make this cold side dish! It pairs perfectly well with a bowl of rice or cold noodles like udon, soba, or ramen.
Tips for making this okra side dish
Rub okra with salt.
Prepare the okra by covering okra with salt and rubbing all over, this removes the fuzz. This method makes the colour more vivid and softens the okra texture as well.
Do a taste test.
The seasoning sauce for this recipe yields a savoury and slightly sour taste for a refreshing, hot summer side dish. If you prefer a less sour version, add more sugar while tasting the sauce to suit your preference.
Can I store leftover okra?
Yes you can, but keep the leftovers for no more than 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Since the cooked okra is mixed with the seasoning sauce, wet pods will quickly turn brown and mould, so be sure to wrap with cling film or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How to store okra?
Store any cooked okra in an airtight container in the refrigerator and keep for 2-3 days only. For any uncooked okra, store them in a perforated plastic bag and keep in the refrigerator. They will last for up to 4 days.
With a crunchy texture and delicious all around, this easy, refreshing okra recipe is lightning-quick to make. Whether you’re making a batch as a side for lunch or dinner or you’re just looking for a healthy snack, this recipe will have everyone eating their vegetables and wanting more!
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Easy Refreshing Okra
Ingredients
- 280 g okra
- coarse salt (for rubbing the okra all over)
- 1/4 onion sliced (for garnishing, optional)
For the seasoning sauce
- 2 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- Sprinkle coarse salt generously over the okra and roll them back and forth to remove the fuzz. This makes the colour more vivid and tenderise the rough edges of the okra.
- Rinse the okra with water and chop off the tips.
- Boil the okra for 1-2 minutes and drain. Let cool.
- Prepare the seasoning sauce while cooling down the okra. Mix together Chinkiang vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and minced garlic.
- Slice the okra in half, transfer to a serving plate, and pour over the seasoning sauce.
- Garnish with sliced onions.