Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
Or as my friend’s 4-year-old says…Guess what?… Chicken butt. Leave it to the young to have all the answers.
Lately, I’ve had the pleasure of staying with my dear old friends sweetly transplanted in the South. And as always the hospitality has included some fine grilled food. I’m pretty sure that if my friend was given the proverbial if you were stuck on a desert island and could bring one thing… I’m gonna take a strong guess he might say his Big Green Egg. See why this grilled okra is top choice here in Georgia.
Read here in our Q+A Highlight post on the magical powers of the Big Green Egg, Brian tells all!
I’m here to tell you he has mastered ribs for sure, as well as many other things. Including this simple southern side dish of grilled okra.
Okra is grown abundantly in Georgia and is available May through harvest season. Okra, also known as lady’s fingers, has been commonplace in the southern states since the 1800s.
Interesting fact: Okra seeds may be roasted and ground to form a caffeine-free substitute for coffee.[7] When importation of coffee was disrupted by the American Civil War in 1861, the Austin State Gazette noted: “An acre of okra will produce seed enough to furnish a plantation with coffee in every way equal to that imported from Rio.”[13]
Read more about its nutrients, how to grow, freeze and cure what ails you with okra at here.
Grilled okra is a minimal, simple side dish offering great flavor and easily accompanies several meaty dishes such as steak and baby back ribs.
Big Green Egg Grilled Okra
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 5
Grilled okra is a minimal, simple side dish offering great flavor and easily accompanies several meaty dishes such as steak and baby back ribs.
Ingredients
- 1lb. Fresh Okra
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
- Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Instructions
- Wash and towel dry fresh okra and place in a medium bowl.
- Drizzle olive oil onto okra and stir till coated. Salt and pepper desired amount.
- Transfer okra to a vented grill pan and place on medium indirect heat on grill.
- Stir okra around after 5 minutes, continue grilling and flipping okra till tender about another 10 minutes.
- Enjoy your fresh grilled okra!
Notes
Season your plated okra with more salt and a squeeze of lemon to enhance the flavor. I've even added a bit of crushed red pepper to liven it up even more.
When selecting okra look for bright green pods free from any age spots or blemishes. They should be firm and crisp. Refrigerate the okra in a paper bag for a few days before grilling.
Courses Vegetable Side Dish
Cuisine Southern
[…] A: Corn, and grilled okra mostly. I’ve also grilled peppers and onions. One time I grilled some veggies to put into a paella. (Grilled Okra Recipe Here!) […]