Smashed Grilled Okra: You Can Also Roast it in the Oven

Sneak Preview: This Simple Smashed Grilled Okra recipe will be right up your alley if you prefer most of your vegetables grilled or roasted as I do. These delectable morsels may not be overly photogenic, but I bet you can’t stop eating them! Skip the sliminess and enjoy the crunch.

Grilled and Smashed okra on foil-lined baking sheet.Pin

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Do you have plans for the Fourth of July? I don’t have a menu yet, but I’m pretty sure this simple oven-baked okra will be on it.

At my house, we eat okra in gumbo and, occasionally, a fresh vegetable stir-fry. Of course, fried okra at a restaurant is a terrific treat, but who wants to break out the deep fryer at home unless it’s a special occasion?

Now that we’re smashing and baking okra, I’ve been eating it every week (or want to). Ugly green/brown roasted okra tastes fantastic and is positively addicting.

Recipe Inspiration

A recipe in The Southern Vegetable Book for Smashed Fried Okra inspired me to try smashing the okra before roasting. Alternatively, you could slice them in half (too time-consuming), or use only the smallest and most tender okra pods in the bin (sometimes there are none).

Please note: This recipe is low-carb and gluten-free.


Why Smash the Okra?

smashing okra  inside a ziplock bag with a rolling pinPin

Pound fresh okra with a meat mallet or the back of a spoon (more challenging), starting from the stem end and moving toward the pointy end. Smashing will shorten the baking time. Splitting the pods open creates more surface area and crispiness.


How To Avoid a Mess When Smashing Okra

preparing whole okra for roastingPin

Put whole okra inside a closed zippered bag and pound away. The bag keeps the okra from slipping away and contains wayward seeds. I use the same technique for smashing chicken breasts.


Condiments To Serve with Grilled Okra

We enjoy dipping our baked okra in Ranch dressing or Mayochup, and I bet you will, too. The wasabi mayonnaise from Epicurious is also fabulous.

Close-up of roasted okra with a dish of Ranch dressing for dipping.Pin

What If I Don’t Want To Turn on the Oven?

Grill them instead. They will be just as good, and you won’t heat up the kitchen.

Furthermore, the grill is faster than the oven, but keep an eye on them. Even though they may look a little burned in the picture below, they are just perfect. The darkest places have the best flavor!

Another option is to use your air fryer. The time can vary depending on the size of your okra.

Charred okra on grilling rackPin

📌Kitchen Secrets📌

  1. Be ready to eat these crispy okra sticks as soon as they come out of the oven or off the grill. The “crispy” doesn’t last long. Consider serving them as an appetizer.
  2. When selecting okra, try to avoid pods longer than three inches. They can be tough and stringy. I prefer to buy them out of a bin, not pre-packaged, where overly mature okra is easy to hide.
  3. Position okra on a foil-covered baking sheet in a single layer for maximum crispiness.
  4. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper for additional flavor.
Simple Baked Okra served with ranch dressing and salt on the side.Pin

FAQ About Oven-Roasted Okra

How do you get the slime out of okra in the oven?

Smash the okra first so the liquid inside is dried up during the roasting process. Roast at a high temperature in the oven or on a grill.

Is oven-roasted okra healthier than fried okra?

It is lower fat because you aren’t dunking the battered okra into a pot of grease. If lower fat and lower carbs fit your definition of “healthier food,” then oven-roasted okra is for you.


Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.


Oven-roasted okra on a baking sheetPin
Yield: 4 servings

Smashed Grilled Okra: You Can Also Roast it in the Oven

Try this fresh okra that is roasted in the oven or over a grill until crispy. Makes a delicious appetizer or side dish.

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(5 stars if you loved it)

5 from 2 votes
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Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound (454 g) fresh okra
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) olive oil
  • salt and black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 450˚ F (230˚C).
  • After washing 1 pound (454 g) fresh okra, trim the stem end, leaving only a small sliver.
  • Pound okra with a meat mallet, starting with the stem end and heading for the pointy end until okra is flat and splayed.
  • Cover a half-sheet pan (cookie sheet) with foil. Pour at 3 tablespoons (42 g) olive oil onto pan and distribute evenly. Arrange smashed okra on a cookie sheet and stir around so that the okra is covered with a thin coating of oil. Sprinkle with salt.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until okra is brown and crispy. Turn okra about half-way through the cooking time.
  • Eat immediately. The crispiness doesn’t last long.

Notes

If you prefer to grill, place the smashed okra into a medium bowl along with the oil. Toss to cover okra with a thin coating of oil, then salt and pepper. Carefully place the okra directly onto a hot grill or use a grill pan, turning each piece of okra when the first side is toasty brown. Okra gets brown much quicker on the grill than when roasting in an oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 152mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g

All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com

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5 Comments

  1. Gwynette in NWArkansas says:

    Thank goodness for a different idea for our bumper crop of okra!! Guess what my Gardener Guy is having for lunch tomorrow???!!!

    1. Can I come for lunch, too? Can’t wait to hear what Gardener Guy thinks.

    2. Gwynette in NWArkansas says:

      Paula, of course you are invited to lunch! The okra was good!! Our lunch was okra, cheese, crackers, and fresh red pepper slices from the garden! Then we went for a thirty mile ride through the mountain backroads in the Ranger side by side ATV. A great fall day! Thanks for the recipe!!

  2. Yum! We like roasted okra (my mom makes it), but the smashing is new to me. We’ll definitely try this, and it’s perfect timing as our okra in the garden is just about ready to pick!

    1. I think you’ll like it. Wondering how your garden is doing. Wish I lived close enough to steal a cherry tomato now and then.