Name: Crispy Cornmeal Roasted Okra
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh okra (sliced lengthwise); 2 tbsp. olive oil; 3 tbsp. yellow cornmeal; salt & pepper (to taste)

Love the taste of fried okra, but not the calories (or standing over a hot skillet of oil)? Try this oven roasted okra instead! It has a crispy cornmeal topping and takes only minutes to prepare.

My Discovery of Crispy Baked Okra

This summer, we don’t have a true garden (sad). Since we just moved in to our new home, it’s been a challenge for us to find the “just right” spot for a garden.

Most of our land is on a large hill, with lots of shady trees. Picturesque, but not so great for a vegetable garden which needs flat ground and gobs of sun.

(If you have any ideas to help us solve this dilemma, please comment below!)

In the meantime, we decided to try growing a few things in raised beds on our deck. We got a few measly tomatoes, cucumbers, and exactly 5 pieces of okra. Yup.

Thus, we thought our okra dreams were dashed this year. Until sweet church friends gave us a large bag brimming with okra goodness.

Along with the bag of garden goodies, she told me their favorite method for roasted okra that is simply heavenly. We loved the recipe so much, I simply had to share it on the blog with all of you!

How do you make okra not slimy?

Some people aren’t okra fans because of its slimy texture. So, cooking method is very important. If you’re wondering how to cook okra without the slime, roast it!

Roasting not only enhances the flavor, it also creates a crispy, crunchy texture which reduces sliminess.

How to make crispy oven roasted okra

The thing I love most about this method is how incredibly easy it is! In 5 minutes, your okra will be ready for the oven. No more standing over a smoking, greasy skillet in the summer heat!

First, wash all that okra real good in a large colander.

Next, simply slice okra lengthwise, and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet.

Then, coat with a bit of olive oil, and sprinkle with cornmeal and salt/pepper before roasting. That’s it!

The okra needs to roast for a pretty long time to get it all crunchy and brown. It takes around 40 minutes, so get it in the oven before you start prepping your other dinner elements.

Crispy Roasted Okra Variations

There are a few ways you can change up this recipe to suit your preferences:

For a low carb oven fried okra, omit the cornmeal and add a little extra seasoning.
Make crispy baked okra chips by slicing the okra in coins instead of lengthwise.
Add your own favorite seasonings or spices to change the flavor! Red pepper flakes if you like it hot, or sage and rosemary if you like herb-y flavors.