There are quite a few plants and vegetables that offer similar nutritional benefits to okra. Peas, bean sprouts, green bean, tomato and artichoke are all high in potassium, dietary fiber, Vitamin C and or calcium.
Peas.
| Okra (1 cup) | Peas (3/4 cup) | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.2 | dietary fiber (G) | 5.7 |
| 23 | Vitamin C (MG) | 40 |
| 82 | calcium (MG) | 25 |
What vegetables are related to okra?
Okra (also known as gumbo), is a tall-growing, warm-season, annual vegetable from the same family as hollyhock, rose of Sharon and hibiscus. The immature pods are used for soups, canning and stews or as a fried or boiled vegetable.
What is okra similar to?
Although the taste and texture of okra is unique, some folks think its mild flavor resembles that of green beans or eggplant. Those two vegetables may be substituted for okra in many soups and stews. However, without okra’s natural thickening properties, cornstarch or flour may also have to be added.
What food group does okra belong to?
Biologically classified as a fruit, okra is generally utilized like a vegetable in cooking. It’s frequently used in Southern American cuisine and a popular addition to gumbo.
Is okra related to corn?
“Corn and okra are not related so it’s odd that they picked those two,” Kleinhenz laughed. “Maybe they needed one familiar and one more unusual crop!
Can you be allergic to okra?
A close association between intradermal reactions to okra extracts and complaints of work-related allergic symptoms was seen in these subjects. These results confirm that the okra may be capable of inducing IgE-mediated immediate-type allergy to workers handling okra.
Is okra related to peppers?
While it looks like a ridged pepper, okra belongs to the same family as hibiscus and cotton, and likely came to the U.S. from Africa more than three centuries ago.
Is it okay to eat raw okra?
Okra pods can even be eaten raw. The less cooked okra is, the better it is for you. It’s high in fiber, folate, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C. Slice off the stem, cut the pods into 1-inch pieces and give them a quick saute to reduce the green taste.
What is okra called in UK?
Okra or Okro (US: /ˈoʊkrə/, UK: /ˈɒkrə/), Abelmoschus esculentus, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies’ fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family.
What does okra water do for you?
Rich in antioxidants
Test-tube studies show that okra is a great source of several important antioxidants, such as quercetin and kaempferol, which may also be found in okra water. These compounds may reduce inflammation and neutralize harmful compounds called free radicals ( 4 , 5 ).
What type of fruit is a okra?
The fruit of Okra is a capsule which is a simple dry fruit that is dehiscent in nature. A capsule is a multi-chambered and multi seeded fruit that develops from a multicarpellary, syncarpous superior ovary which means that there are 2-3 carpels present fused together.
Is okra related to cotton?
Okra and cotton are botanically related
Okra and cotton are both members of the mallow (Malvaceae) family of plants. Southern gardening blogger, Talya Tate Boerner, refers to the two plants as “kissing cousins”.
Is okra related to cactus?
Description. Wall okra is a flowering and fruiting cactus originating from the northern Caribbean, its natural range limited to the islands of Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. The plant consists of slender, succulent green stems that are jointed into segments up to 60 cm (2 ft) long.
Is okra a squash?
A long, cylindrical variety of squash, native to Asia, that is generally harvested when it is between 1 to 2 feet in length, but can be grown as long as 8 to 10 feet. It has a dark green outer skin with longitudinal ridges covering a somewhat spongy and fiberous pulp, somewhat similar to a cucumber.
Where did okra originate from?
It is disputed where the plant originated, most likely somewhere in West Africa, but we do know that it was cultivated by ancient Egyptians (ancient Egypt was called Kemet, which means ‘black land’ and is believed to have referred to the generative soil in the region).
Is okra a nightshade?
Blueberries are not nightshades. Okra isn’t a nightshade either.
How common is okra allergy?
Is okra a common allergen? No. Okra is not a common food allergen, though there have been reports of skin irritation from farm workers handling okra leaves and pods.
How do I know if I’m allergic to okra?
People who are allergic to the alkaloids in nightshades may experience one or more of the following symptoms after eating a vegetable from the nightshade family: hives and skin rashes. itchiness. nausea.
Why does okra make you itch?
Tailor your approach by understanding why itching occurs. The above-ground plant structures of okra have prominent hairs or spines. These spines are sharp and contain substances that may produce allergenic skin reactions.
Is okra a false fruit?
This velvety green fruit which is again mistaken to be a vegetable is a fruit. Okra also known as the lady’s finger is a flowering plant with edible seed pods. Okra is primarily used as a vegetable.
Why is okra not a fruit?
According to Science: Okra is a Fruit
According to botanical definitions, the fruit of a plant is what allows the plant to reproduce. It develops from the ovary of the flower and contains the seeds the plant needs to reproduce into future generations. By this definition, okra is a fruit.