Okra, Ladies Fingers, Bhindi or Bamya

Okra has a mild green bean and asparagus taste which is very high in vitamins and beneficial for pregnancy and diabetic and digestive issues among many others.

Okaro also known as Ladies Fingers, Bhindi and Bamya is also used for thickening stews and soups such as Gumbo, by slicing and adding to food 10 minutes before cooking is complete.  You can also stir-fry, chopped or whole (6-12 minutes); steam whole (5 minutes); grill whole (2-3 minutes each side).  If cooked quickly, Okra is crunchy; if slow cooked, tender.  Because of its sliminess, Okra has had a bad rap in certain cuisines.  Find more slime free recipes here.

For the best results:-
Purchase 5 -10 cm (2-4 inches) for better taste.
They should firm and snap rather than bend.
Wash with a paper towel or veggie brush and rinse.  This will remove the fluff with older Okra.
Trim by topping and tailing the conical stem and pointy tip without cutting the okra flesh.
Slicing or cutting the okra flesh will release a slimy substance and make the food gelatinous.
To prevent the okra from having any sense of slime, it can be soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes and then rinsed and dried.