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Okra Parmigiana Recipe

A delicious southern take on Eggplant Parmigiana using fresh summer okra instead of eggplant. Okra never tasted so good.

Okra Parmigiana

I found a real treasure of a cookbook at a local used book store, written by Dori Sanders of York, SC, who incidentally lives just minutes from our old house. Although I’ve never met her, I’ve been familiar with Dori Sanders for a number of years, but had no idea she had such a fabulous cookbook. It’s easily become one of my favorite southern cookbooks.

okra

Dori is a very talented and accomplished woman and has 2 novels published, Clover and Her Own Place. The name of her cookbook is Dori Sanders’ Country Cooking: Recipes and Stories from the Family Farm Stand, published in 1995. It is full of down home country cooking recipes using fresh southern produce.

Dori Sanders' Country Cooking

 

But these aren’t just your regular old country cooking recipes you’ll see in cookbook after cookbook. Dori Sanders has an imaginative and creative mind and there are some truly unique recipes in her cookbook.

okra

Case in point- her recipe for Okra Parmigiana, a recipe that in all my years of collecting cookbooks, I’ve never seen before. And what a wonderful recipe it is- a southern version of Eggplant Parmigiana using fresh summer okra instead of eggplant.

Okra Parmigiana

I’ve changed the recipe up some, but the essense is still the same- okra pods cut in half horizontally and fried in a cornmeal batter. They are layered with a thick tomato sauce and topped with cheese. The whole thing is baked until the cheese is warm and bubbly. This dish is Italian heaven for the okra lover.

Okra Parmigiana

And if you haven’t tried okra, or have but didn’t like it, you must try this recipe. What’s not to like about something covered in tomato sauce and cheese?

Okra Parmesan

Okra Parmigiana

Okra Parmigiana

A southern take on eggplant parmigiana using fresh summer okra instead of eggplant.
PREP: 45 minutes
COOK: 30 minutes
TOTAL: 1 hour 15 minutes
SERVINGS: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 (14-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh okra pods, each about 3-4 inches long
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • Vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté another 2 to 3 minutes. Add oregano.
  • Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add parsley. Sauce will be thick. You can add a little water if you wish to thin it some.
  • Cut off cap end of okra pods and cut pods in half lengthwise. Combine bread crumbs and flour in a pie plate.
  • Dip okra pods in egg and then roll in bread crumb mixture to coat.
  • Add enough Vegetable oil to a large skillet to coat the bottom with about 1/4-inch oil. Heat over medium-high heat. Add half the okra and brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. (Okra will burn easily. Turn heat down some if it is browning too quickly.) Drain on paper towels and immediately season the okra with some salt. Add more oil to skillet and cook remaining okra.
  • Coat bottom of prepared baking dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce. Layer 1/2 the okra in the dish and top with half of the tomato sauce. Repeat layers. Top with Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses.
  • Place in preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until bubbly and browned.

Notes

Use okra that is no bigger than 3 to 4 inches long. Larger okra will be too fibrous.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal
Author: Christin Mahrlig
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Southern

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28 thoughts on “Okra Parmigiana Recipe”

  1. I have never tried okra before. This makes me want to try it now. Sorry, I know I’m from the North! 🙂

  2. Brilliant, brilliant idea, Christin! Huge okra fan here, particularly the fried version, and smothering it in tomato sauce and cheese sounds so fantastic! I so LOVE this recipe!

  3. In the summer, my family stands by the island stove waiting to snag every piece of fried squash and okra I take out of the pan! How will I ever get it to a casserole dish? Thanks for a “new” recipe.

  4. Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods

    Such a great use of okra. I don’t think I’ve seen it in our market here. I wonder if it regional? I do love it and if I find it. I’m definitely trying it out. Looks amazing! Pinning

  5. Jess @ On Sugar Mountain

    Do you know I’ve never had okra?! And I have definitely been meaning to try it for some time…looks like I just got a sign from the universe to try it in this awesome parmigiana recipe. 😀 Thanks Christin!

  6. Love this dish, I think it sounds amazing. Fried okra is delicious and never ever would have thought of making it into an okra parmigiano. Creative and delicious.

  7. Donalyn@TheCreeksideCook

    This is such a wonderful idea and it looks really delicious! People don’t eat a lot of okra around here, but my grandmother was from Alabama and she cooked it often – can’t wait to try this!

  8. Shashi @ RunninSrilankan

    I have never heard of Okra Parmigiana before either! Thanks for sharing this unique recipe – I happen to love Okra and I happen to love Parmigiana – but it never crossed my mind to combine the 2!

  9. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    I love fried okra so I would really have to restrain myself to leave enough to make this dish. Such a different idea using okra… I’m sure I would like it.

    1. I love this recipe! I am from Oklahoma and my grandmother and aunts made fried okra. Yum yum! I was wondering if I could make low carb by using pork rinds instead of bread crumbs would work. Thx

  10. ela@GrayApron

    Okra, okra, okra, just a sweet memory of it left from living in the South. Great parmigiana!

    ela h.

  11. Okra! That reminds me that I have a pack of frozen okra in my freezer that I haven’t used! 🙂

  12. Consuelo - Honey & Figs

    I don’t hink I’ve ever had okra, but I’m a big fan of all things parmigiana so this recipe is a must make for me! 😉 It looks fantastic!

  13. Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes

    I’ve never cooked with okra before – love this idea. Sounds like a great cookbook find!

  14. What a nice way to prepare okra…I love it! Thanks for the inspiration Christin.
    Have a wonderful week 😀

  15. Wow, this is such a great recipe Christin! I am a HUGE fan of okra love the sound of this dish! My husband isn’t too crazy about okra but he is a big fan of egglplant parmigiana so I can’t see him not loving this! Pinning and can’t wait to try 🙂

  16. Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps

    I’ve never cooked with okra! It’s always on sale at the grocery store,and I have no idea what to do with it, except to fry it. LOVE this! So unique!

  17. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor

    What a great way to use okra! When we used to receive a CSA delivery I was overwhelmed with okra and never found enough uses for it. I can see myself enjoying this version of okra parmesan. Thanks for sharing this book and recipe, Christin!

  18. Natalie @ Tastes Lovely

    I love finding unique cookbooks. They can be so inspirational with flavor combinations or unique ingredients. This sounds delicious! I actually love okra, so this would be a perfect dinner for me : )

  19. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    Sounds like you’ve found some fabulous recipes in that cookbook! This okra dish looks amazing! Can you believe I’ve never tried okra before? But that’s going to change because this looks delicious…love that you used this veggie in place of eggplant!

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