After washing 1 pound 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 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.