Garlic Roasted Okra – Better Than Fries!

This Garlic Roasted Okra is an incredibly delicious dish. Tender roasted okra with lots of garlic and flavorful seasonings, this recipe is sure to become your favorite way to prepare okra.

I know okra gets a bad rap because it's known for having a slimy texture, but when it's cooked right, it makes a delicious vegetable dish to add to your table. This Garlic Roasted Okra is mouthwateringly tender after roasting in the oven and has a rich flavor thanks to the plant butter and seasoning it's tossed in. The best part is it's not slimy at all! I consider this to be one of the best okra recipes because there is deliciousness in every bite. Even if you're not a fan of okra, this dish will change your mind.

Okra is a great vegetable to work with because it contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, folate, Vitamin C, and fiber. It also has a mild flavor, which makes it perfect for mixing with your favorite seasonings and serving with other dishes. This simple recipe is very complementary and packs a lot of flavor. Let's look at what you'll need to make one of my favorite okra recipes.

Video Tutorial

What you'll need

• Okra. When buying okra, look for smooth, tender, blemish-free, bright green pods. Avoid pods with brown spots, dry ends, or overly large pods. Frozen okra that is thawed and drained works, too.
• Plant Butter. I am using butter to add extra aroma to this dish. You can use olive oil or vegetable oil instead, if you prefer.
• Garlic Powder. Garlic powder works better than fresh garlic in this recipe because it adds the flavor, but doesn't burn while roasting.
• Paprika. Adds a sweet, peppery taste to the okra, though not spicy.
• Salt. Or you can use garlic salt.

How to make this roasted okra

1. Rinse the okra and dry it with paper towels. Trim away the stem ends, and then cut it into ½ to ¾-inch pieces. Place the okra into a medium-sized mixing bowl.

2. In a small dish, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, and salt.

3. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the okra and add the melted butter. Mix everything well.

4. Transfer the okra to a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet and spread them out evenly in a single layer.

5. Bake the okra for about 15 minutes at 450°F, until golden brown. Serve with a dash of lemon juice or a dipping sauce.

How to buy and store fresh okra

Buying the right okra can really make a difference in this recipe. You're looking for okra that is bright green in color, without blemishes, and has a smooth texture. Avoid pods that have dry ends because this is a sign that the okra is old and maybe been on the shelf for a while. You also don't want pods that are large, more than five inches long, because this indicates rougher skin and tougher seeds.

Don't purchase your okra too far in advance because it's very perishable. Keep it in the refrigerator, preferably in a paper bag, and cook it within a day or two of purchase.

The seasoning for roasted okra

In this recipe, I am using paprika, garlic powder, and salt to season the okra. But I just want to mention one seasoning that works really well for baking okra, too. It is called Berbere. This seasoning has a great mix of spices and adds a nice touch to dishes. If you decide to try it, or already have it on hand, just use ½ teaspoon of berbere seasoning instead of the paprika. Also, you can add about ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, if you'd like to add some heat to this okra dish.

How to cut okra

You can cut the okra into two lengthwise pieces or into small discs, whichever you prefer. It won't make a difference to the cooking process. You can even use whole okra, but it might be a bit slimy inside and I know that some people don't like this texture.

Tips for the best Garlic Roasted Okra

• Cut the okra. Chopped okra makes all the difference when you want to get rid of any slimy texture inside, so make sure you cut them into either discs or lengthwise for the best texture. 
• Premix the dry ingredients. Your spice should be premixed before adding them to the cut piece of okra. This enables even distribution of all the flavors.
• Don't skip the butter. The plant-based butter makes the fresh okra pods easier to brown in the oven and keeps them moist so they don't dry out while baking.

Add-ins and substitutions

• Substitute the method of cooking. You can make this a southern fried okra recipe by dropping the okra into hot oil in a large cast iron skillet and cooking until you've got crispy fried okra. You can also make stewed okra. Making this with an air fryer okra recipe will also give the veggie a great texture and get rid of any sliminess.
• Make breaded okra. Covering the okra with corn meal is one of the easy ways to give this vegetables some crunch. Use yellow cornmeal or white cornmeal.
• Add some spice. Give this delicious okra some heat with hot sauce, black pepper, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper. 

How to store and reheat it

Store your Garlic Roasted Okra in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Once cooked, okra will stay fresh in there for about 3-5 days. To reheat this dish, place the okra back on a baking sheet and warm it in the oven for a few minutes. You can also microwave it, stirring occasionally, until warm.

This Garlic Roasted Okra is so tender and tasty. You'll love adding this vegan dish into your meal rotation. With tons of flavor, health benefits, and a flavor that goes well with most everything, this vegetable side dish is perfect for your next family dinner. So give it a try!

Other scrumptious recipes to try:

• Baked Okra
• Taco Roasted Okra
• Easy Rice and Okra
• Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Psst! I think you'd really enjoy this Roasted Cabbage!