Spicy Seared Okra

One of the best okra recipes out there! Simply sautéed with jalapeño, nuts, tomatoes & garlic, okra becomes an addictive dish you won't stop craving.

spicy seared okra recipe

I realize that it’s Halloween, and okra is not exactly candy. But this simple recipe is so good, you’ll crave it like chocolate. Ok, maybe that’s a stretch, but you’ll crave it nonetheless.

Okra is something that’s completely new to me. I’ve been living here in Texas for a while now, but have never been inclined to give this humble vegetable a try until I had it at this summer at Contigo.

Their preparation is pretty straightforward: oil, garlic… cook them over high heat so they get that nice char without becoming slimy. The genius part is the way they finish it with sherry vinegar. It gives them a sweet, tangy, almost pickled kind of flavor… you’ll start eating these and not be able to stop.

Looking for more okra recipes?

Try these Spicy Sweet Potato & Avocado Tostadas next!


3.5 from 2 reviews

Spicy Seared Okra

 
Prep time
Cook time
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This flavorful vegetarian side dish is nutty, tangy, spicy & totally addictive! A great addition to a summer dinner spread.
Author:
Recipe type: Side dish
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 12 or so pieces okra, sliced in half
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • ½ jalapeño, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
  • Small handful cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • ¼ cup sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When your pan is really hot, add the okra and sauté until it starts to turn brown. Add a few pinches of salt.
  2. Add the shallots and jalapeños and sauté for 1 minute, turning down the heat as needed. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the walnuts and tomatoes, and toss to incorporate.
  3. Deglaze the pan with the sherry vinegar, and reduce until it’s almost dry. Remove the pan from heat, and add the butter, tossing and stirring to create a glaze. Enjoy!

 

9 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Rachel Cantin
    11.06.2023

    We didn’t like that recipe.. 🙁

  2. mel good
    08.30.2015

    This is probably my favorite okra recipe- even disclosing that I love a good seafood gumbo with okra– this dish is addictive. Thank you.

  3. Laura from thefirstmess.com
    11.02.2012

    Okra has always eluded me. I’ve enjoyed it, sure. But cooking it, yeesh. Can’t do it. The simplicity of this sounds do-able though. Especially with that zing of sherry vinegar at the end. Yum.

  4. Camille Styles
    11.01.2012

    Thanks for the love Jeanine, and let me say from experience: this okra is completely addictive.

  5. I absolutely love okra!!! It is not something I see here in the Pacific NW so much (only at my favorite Indian restaurant!) but I have always wanted to cook with it. This recipe sounds absolutely addicting!!! XO Brynn

  6. Courtney from sweetmsicellany.blogspot.com
    11.01.2012

    I’ve actually lived in Texas all of my life and had never really thought much about okra until recently. One of the farmers at our local market had me eat one raw and I have been looking for recipes ever since. This looks like the perfect inaugural okra recipe to try!

  7. Fresh okra is one of the reasons I’m really looking forward to about living in TX! I’ve only had it frozen, but I love it.

  8. Interesting way to have okra. I’m Asian so we use it often in quite a few traditional dishes. 🙂

  9. This looks incredible! I’ve never thought to pair okra with walnuts… but I do love pickled okra, so this looks like something I’d really enjoy. Can’t wait to give it a try!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.