Roasted Okra with Simple Yogurt Dip

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Go ahead and skip the fried okra or okra stew next time. Try a new way to enjoy this healthy vegetable. Roast them in the oven instead for delicious flavor and an incredible texture. The Easy Roasted Okra with Simple Yogurt Dipping Sauce is fresh, light, and scrumptious to eat. It makes the perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner, a dinner party, or a special occasion.

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Since moving to Florida, I’m finding myself bringing more and more green vegetables home including okra. I don’t think I have ever seen it back in Washington, but here, I keep eyeing it in every grocery store or at the farmer’s market. I can’t help myself.

Okra is a wonderful vegetable that has a delicious, unique flavor. Pair it with some fresh garden vegetables and you’ve got a wonderful side dish. Or serve it on its own for a yummy snack, with a simple Yogurt dipping sauce.

The first time I tried Okra, is when I got Covid and didn’t feel like cooking at all. Had no energy whatsoever. I ordered dinner through Door Dasher. I think I ordered braised lamb with rice and an okra dish.

I didn’t even know what okra was. When my order came, I gave it a try and just enjoyed the nutty flavors of okra, a new kind of vegetable for me. Later on, I started seeing it everywhere and started recipe testing. My kids are not fans of it yet, but maybe someday they will be.

Okra pods get a bad rep because sometimes it produces a slimy texture. And that slimy texture isn’t really appealing. But there’s a way to avoid that. And as much as I eat okra, I never eat slimy okra. Cooking okra without any liquid on high heat makes it perfectly crunchy. Not slimy.

Delicious all on its own, Roasted Okra which is sometimes called okra fries makes a great appetizer for guests to munch on while you finish up the main course. Pairing them with The Yogurt sauce which is fresh, creamy, and flavorful is the best way to enjoy this tasty vegetable.

This roasted okra is the best recipe because it has a tender crispy texture with a subtle crunch, which adds to its appeal. It’s a great way to enjoy its grassy, nutty flavors without a ton of ingredients.

Why you’ll love the Okra fries

It’s versatile: It goes with everything and the recipe is simple to adjust depending on the number of people you’re preparing this for.

Unique dish: This okra recipe is a unique dish that you can serve with your favorite meat or seafood. It can be served as an appetizer or summer side dish at your next dinner party.

Healthy vegetable: Okra is a healthy vegetable and this recipe will be your favorite way to enjoy it as a yummy snack. It’s a great alternative to french fries.

Quick and easy: Roasting the veggies is an easy way to cook them because they’re ready in minutes.

Key Ingredients for the Roasted Okra

Roasted okra ingredients- yogurt, salt, garlic, black pepper, olive oil, curry, okra, and garlic powder.

Fresh Okra: Look for smaller pods that are smooth, uniformly green, and free of brown spots for the best quality and flavor. Small okra is also more flavorful than larger ones.

Olive oil: This versatile cooking oil adds an aroma to the veggies and makes the okra taste so much better.

Curry: Adds tons of delicious flavor, aroma, and color to this recipe.

Garlic powder: Enriches the taste of the okra and adds subtle flavor.

Sea salt: Has a stronger flavor and crunchy texture versus table salt.

For the Dip you’ll need:

Minced garlic clove: This aromatic adds a beautiful and unique flavor to the sauce.

Plain yogurt: It’s healthy, light, and has a slightly tangy taste that gives an extra zing to the sauce.

You’ll also need salt and black pepper to taste.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make Oven-Roasted Okra with the Yogurt Dipping Sauce

Step 1: Prepare the oven

Preheat oven to 350F.

Step 2: Prep your okra.

Rinse and thoroughly dry the okra first then cut off the stems of the okra and remove the tips. Slice them in half, lengthwise.

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Step 3: Coat okra in seasoning

Place okra in a large bowl, add curry powder, sea salt, garlic powder, and olive oil. Toss to coat okra evenly in spices.

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Step 4: Bake okra

Place okra on a baking sheet in a single layer then roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes until crispy, lightly golden brown, and tender.

Step 5: Prepare the dipping sauce

While okra is roasting, prepare the sauce. Mix yogurt with garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

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Step 6: Serve and enjoy

Once the okra is done, serve it hot with the Yogurt sauce.

How to store leftover roasted okra

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer when you’re ready to enjoy again.
To freeze, cool okra, then add into a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, let them thaw in your fridge overnight then reheat in the oven.

Expert Tips

Many people cut okras into rounds before cooking them but it’s better to cut them in half vertically which allows them to cook up like a chip. This makes them extra crunchy! Yum!
Make sure the okra is in a single layer so everything roasts properly instead of steaming.
These pods cook up really fast and cool just as quickly, so you’ll want to serve them right away for the best flavor.
Keep the okra as dry as possible since excess water will contribute to any sliminess.
You can substitute the plain yogurt with plain Greek yogurt or dip the okra in ranch dressing.

Recipe FAQs

What are the health benefits of Okra?

It’s rich in Vitamins A and Vitamin C. Okra pods are full of antioxidants and they’re rich in folate, magnesium, and fiber while being low in calories. It can reduce health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease

What To Serve With This Roasted Okra

You can serve this roasted okra all by itself. It’s delicious enough. But it also makes for a great companion on the dinner table. This recipe pairs well with almost any kind of protein. It will go really well with Soy Sauce Chicken With Honey And Ginger, Chicken Breasts in a Creamy Mushroom Sauce, or Seared Salmon In A Creamy Butter Sauce.

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

Fast and hot are the keys to success. Bake the okra at high temperatures since lower temperatures can cause moisture to build up, giving okra that unpleasant slimy texture.

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More recipes to try out

The Baked Carrot and Cheese Crostini Appetizer Melt is cheesy, sweet, and the perfect appetizer for any party
These Easy Grilled Sweet Ginger Pineapple Slices are refreshing, vibrant, and a delicious side dish.
The Oven Baked Zucchini Crisps with Parmesan are crunchy, and flavor-filled and make a healthy snack and the perfect side dish

Other roasted vegetable recipes to try

If you tried this Roasted Okra with Simple Dip or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!