Health Benefits
A half cup of cooked okra has about 20 calories. That same half cup provides 20% of the RDA for calcium. It’s also high in vitamin A, dietary fiber, and iron. It is cholesterol free, fat free and a great source of folate and antioxidants.
Fun Fact
There are actually several varieties of okra or “bindi” as it is commonly known outside the United States. Purple okra is grown in New Guinea and Annie Oakley okra, a hybrid, is bright green and matures rapidly – less than two months.
How to Eat
The southern dish, gumbo, is what okra is most notable for. However, there are many ways to prepare and enjoy okra. Okra is delicious when breaded and fried. It can also be added to soups and stews. And if you enjoy pickled vegetables then try pickled okra.
Like many vegetables, the leaves of the okra plant are often consumed. They can be eaten raw in a salad or cooked. The seeds of the okra plant also serve a number of purposes. They can be used to make oil. They can also be roasted used to make a caffeine free coffee like beverage.
Okra may be an odd looking fuzzy seed pod that emits slime when it’s heated. However, it is also delicious and nutritious. Try okra today. You can find it in your grocer’s produce section and cut and prepared in the freezer section, too.
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