Okra Substitutes

Okra Substitutes

Okra is commonly used as a thickener for soups and stews plus it is one of the most popular ingredients in many countries. There are a lot of okra alternatives you can try and each one serves a different purpose such as a thickening agent, for pickling, as a fried option, or even as a vegetable side dish. Based on your meal, you can select the alternative that best suits  your needs.

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File Powder

One of the first okra substitute on our list is file powder or gumbo file. You can use it as a thickening agent plus it is commonly used in gumbo along with okra. You can substitute either of them for each other if you run out of one. File powder is made of dried leaves of the North American sassafras tree and it has been used as a thickening agent in gumbos, stews, as well as other soups for a long time. It is also necessary to add file powder to the gumbo right before you serve it or sprinkle it when it is ready. You can also use file powder to gumbo when it’s still cooking in order for it to become thick and stringy. When using file powder as a substitute for okra, make use of one tablespoon of powder for every two cups of okra. It is also important to note that not everyone enjoys the taste of fine powder, some people enjoy it whereas some do not.

Cornstarch

Also on our list of substitutes for okra is cornstarch. Cornstarch is a corn extract that looks almost the same as flour and is, in fact, a carbohydrate that is commonly used as a thickening agent in pies, soups, casseroles, marinades, sauces, and other recipes. The difference between normal flour and cornstarch is that cornstarch only contains carbs and is therefore gluten-free. As a thickening agent, it is often preferred to flour because it is twice as thickening plus the resulting product is tasteless and transparent. Cornstarch is one of your best okra substitutes. You can stir one tablespoon of cold water with two teaspoons of cornstarch and add to your meal. It is recommended that you use a sieve because the consistency of your cornstarch might form lumps. Your mixture will thicken after 5-10 minutes of cooking and it will not add any extra flavour to your dish. That way you will not alter the taste of your dish by substituting cornstarch for okra.

Arrowroot

Another effective substitute for okra is arrowroot. This is an excellent substitute if you cannot eat cornstarch. Arrowroot is commonly used as a substitute for thickening agents in various recipes since it shares some characteristics with most common flour-like powders. The powder is white and tasteless, it is a strong thickening power just like cornstarch plus it is vegan and gluten-free. Arrowroot  comes from the roots of a tropical plant, which are later dried and ground.  It is not recommended to use arrowroot for recipes where the final outcome should look appealing and shiny, because it gives a glossy finish to your food, without changing its colour. Also, arrowroot can be used in many ways and not just as a thickening agent. It works well even with acidic ingredients such as those used to make fruit fillings. For every two cups of okra substitute two teaspoons of arrowroot mixed with two teaspoons of water.

Zucchini

Also on our list of substitutes for okra is Zucchini. Zucchini is a versatile alternative that works well for many vegetables and fruits including okra and cucumbers. However, there is so much you can do with zucchini, such as using it for fillings, desserts, bread, plus you can even turn it into noodles and it also works on its own as a side dish. Zucchini is very easy to cook and also easy to grow in your home garden. It is also affordable and accessible in most supermarkets. Zucchini has a sweet flavour that you can keep if you are making bread and cakes, or you can smother it with salt when making side dishes or pasta. When it comes to a substitute for okra as a side dish, zucchini is one of your excellent alternatives because of it is light flavoured plus it has soft texture when cooked, that is similar to okra.

Green beans

Green beans is another alternative for okra that is available all year-round and makes for a nutritious and juicy side dish when cooked alone. Green beans are full of antioxidants and can help lower the risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome to name a few. There is so much you can do with green beans such as blanching them, steaming, braising, or sautéing them as well as stir-frying them. You can also put your green beans into a casserole. Some that do not like the sliminess of okra would rather make pickled okra because the process adds acidity and reduces the slime. Green beans can make a good pickled alternative to okra because they have a crunchy and snappy consistency.

Asparagus

Another decent alternative to okra is asparagus which grows all over the world. However, asparagus is slightly more expensive than other vegetables but it makes a substitute for okra. It is easily recognizable by its long and pointed shape and it is very versatile, you can roast it, boil it, steam it, grill it and or fry it and that is one of the reasons why it makes such a good substitute for okra. Fried okra also makes for a quick and delicious snack, especially when served with a dipping sauce. Keep in mind that the taste will not be the same. On the other hand asparagus is extremely appetizing when it is fried so you can easily swap it with okra when necessary because the result is very similar.

Broccoli Florets

Lastly, broccoli makes a good alternative to okra. In fact it is common for being very healthy. Broccoli is low in fat and calories and it is also high in fibres and vitamin C. Every part of broccoli is edible, plus some recipes focus on the stalks, while others on the heads. You can also add it raw in salads or cooked in several different ways depending on your taste or on what the recipe calls for. Broccoli florets make a good replacement for okra as a vegetable side dish.

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