Oven Roasted Okra to Make a Believer Out of You


I have done enough self-reflection over the years to admit that I have a fiery, hot-headed personality.  In certain matters, I vastly prefer people who agree with me over people who don't.  It's not that I can't compromise, I can.  On certain things.  But I can also defend something to the death, and loudly.  Obnoxiously, even.  Don't put it past me.  There's nothing I like better than a good word-wrangle, especially when I can claim myself as the ultimate victor.  That last part is important.  Sure, I could try to get it under control, work on my listening skills, try to see where the other party is coming from, blah blah blah.  But you know, when you're right, you're right.  And I have to tell you: I am right about okra.

And today, I'm going to prove it.  Or rather, I'm going to give you the means to prove it yourself, courtesy of my much loved Yamuna's Table by Yamuna Devi.  Aside from winning the IACP award for her more famous Lord Krishna's Cuisine (which I have yet to get my hands on), the woman sang backup for the Beatles, has cooked for Gandhi and studied at the Cordon Bleu as well as all over India.  I'm all about proving my own points, but when you have an expert in your corner to back you up, well, all the better.  Listen, Devi makes eating okra as addicting as eating candy.  And it's easy.  And it's healthy. (Believe it.)

So if okra can do all of that, it seems this little one-sided debate of mine (maybe better labeled a pontification) has surely won you over, and with okra season just around the corner.  I do love it when I win.

Oven-Roasted Okra
Only very slightly adapted from Yamuna Devi's Yamuna's Table

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt or herb salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 lbs. okra, rinsed and patted dry
Lime, cut into wedges

Oven preheated to 500F.  Combine all of the ingredients except the okra and lime in a bowl.  Mix to form a grainy paste.  Toss the okra in the mixture, then spread out on a baking sheet.  Lightly spray the okra with cooking spray, and bake for 10 - 12 minutes.  Shake the pan every once in a while to prevent sticking.  The Okra is done when it's nice and tender.  Serve with lime wedges


Comments

Sara said…
I would have never thought to roast okra, but I love roasted vegetables so why not? What a great idea!
Snooky doodle said…
oh I ve never tried ocra but surely these make me curious to try them :)
Ammu said…
Wow! sounds simple & delicoius. Never tried baking okra. will try this soon.
Becka Robinson said…
I've never liked it, but I've only ever had it fried
Dewi said…
Andrea, this is really delicious okra. I really like okra, though my whole family against it. They think it's too slimy...
Cheers,
elra
jenniferhoiyin said…
love this.
and my mother would agree with you to the death.
Dragon said…
I've never had okra this way but it looks amazing.
I always roast our vegetables, but have never tried okra. What a great idea, and I love the spice selection...
Anonymous said…
I'll have to try this one out. My husband loves okra, but I'm lukewarm on the stuff.
Giff said…
no argument needed here :) I like okra, but have never tried it this way. Thanks!
Anonymous said…
Depending on how one seasons it, okra cooked in a BBQ grill is also delicious.

It is especially delectable if cooked while other meats are being prepared.

Thought I'd share that I was in Cape Cod last weekend and spent 125 bucks at this place you may find of interest:
http://www.atlanticspice.com/

I can't wait to try something called "Za'atar".

JerryNJ
Andrea said…
JerryNJ, okra on the BBQ? Sign me up. Too bad I live in a tiny apartment and have no hopes of getting my hands on one. Also, I wish I could go to cap cod just for that shop! I LOVE places like that. Looks amazing.

Thanks for all the comments, I've been so crazy busy I'v been letting my replies lapse and now I'm so far behind, maybe I should just start with the new posts and forget about the old ones...sigh.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Popped these in the oven while I had something else baking—hate to heat up that thing without getting the most out of it. SO GOOD.

Made a few tweaks: Replaced the water with juice of ½ lemon & the spices with 1½ tsp. Moroccan spice mix from Kalyn's Kitchen (because I already had it handy). Now that I say it, I guess I basically changed the recipe, huh? :-)

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2007/11/roasted-carrots-recipe-with-moroccan.html
Mesa Leventhal said…
How many would this serve?

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