CHARACTERISTICS OF OKRA
Common English Name: okra, okro, gumbo, lady's fingers
Common names in other languages:
- Catalan / Català: ocra, gombo, gumbo, ocro
- Galician / Galego: quiabo
- Portuguese / Português: quiabo
- Basque / Euskara: okra
- Italian / Italiano: gombo
- Romanian / Română: Okra
- French / Français: gombo
- German / Deutsch: Okra, Gemüse-Eibisch, bamya
- Polish/ Polski: róża chińska
- Dutch /Nederlands: Okra
- Norwegian /Norsk bokmål: Okra
- Finnish /Suomi: Okra
- Swedish /Svenska: Okra
- Turkish / Türkçe: bamya
- Русский / Russian: окра
Scientific name: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.
Other taxonomic names:
Used parts of okra: Leaves, fruits, seeds and roots.
Origin of okra
It is believed that okra is native to North Africa and was brought to the US three centuries ago through the African slave trade. Its exact origin is focused on Abyssinia, comprising present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea mountains and highlands of eastern Sudan.
Habitat: is a plant of tropical and temperate regions, very resistant to heat, drought and poor soils. The major global producers are India, Sudan and Iraq.
Distribution: Important vegetable in the diet of tropical countries. Popular among the populations of Cameroon, Ghana, India, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States.
Description of Okra
Okra belongs to the Malvaceae family, the same family that cotton (Gossypium spp.) or hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.) belong. Its growth cycle is 90-100 days.
It is a herbaceous plant with woody stem (sometimes with reddish tones), erect and very branched. Numerous short twigs attached to the stem are distinguished.
Okra can reach up to 3 meters high, although it usually measures just over 1 meter.
Its leaves can have different shapes, even on the same plant. These are stalked heart-shaped., large, with thick limb and dark green on top and gray on the bottom.
Basal leaves are almost entire, while the upper ones present divided lobes (lobes 4 to 7) with toothed margins.
Okra flowers are solitary and showy, 4-8cm. in diameter, arising from the axils of the leaves join to the stem by a floral stalk 2-2,5cm.
They are protected by a calycle, which has between 7 and 12 teeth. Calyx consists of 5 petals white or yellow with red or purple spots on the base.
Flowers are hermaphrodite. They bloom from July to September.
Okra fruit is a capsule, dehiscent, elongated, straight or curved, 10-30cm. long per 1-4cm. wide, green yellow or green, sometimes purple or white.
Its seeds are dark brown.
USES OF OKRA
Okra as edible food
Okra leaves, buds, flowers and chalices can be eaten cooked as a vegetable.
The unripe pod, known as okra, when cooked, exudes mucilage. It is abundantly consumed.
Can be prepared boiled, steamed or braised and curryes. It is rich in iron, calcium and beta carotene.
Overripe fruits are fibrous and unpalatable.
In local markets, where okra consumption is common, you can find dried okra.
Ripe and cooked seeds are edible and very aromatic. After cooking (Raw okra contains toxic ingredients) are added to purees, in the preparation of tofu and tempeh. They are rich in proteins and oils.
The root is also edible, but it is very stringy and unpleasant to taste.
- Seasoning: the leaves can be dried, powdered and stored for later use as flavoring.
- Thickener: Because of its content in pectin fiber, it is used as a thickener for soups, stews and sauces.
- Coffee substitute: The roasted seeds are used to prepare a replacement drink of coffee without caffeine, with appreciated flavor and aroma.
- Okra oil: Seeds contain up to 22% edible oil, so they can be used for extracting oil. Okra oil is rich in Omega 9 oleic acid and palmitic acid.
* More information on Okra recipes in the listing above.
Okra as a curative plant
All parts of the plant have medicinal properties. The fruit is demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic and emollient. The roots and leaves are vulnerary. The seeds were formerly used as stimulant and antispasmodic.
- Feeding of animals: used for livestock feed because it is high in protein (seeds found inside the fruit). However, the seeds are rich in gossypol, a pigment that can be toxic if ingested in large quantities by livestock.
- Other uses: Plant fiber can be used to make paper and fishing nets.
Composition of Okra
- Carbohydrates: pentosan
- Fats: Poor fat.
- Fiber: pectins
- Alpha-tocopherol (seeds), gamma-tocopherol (seeds), riboflavin, vitamin C, folacin
- Minerals: potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper
- Phytosterols (fruit)
- Anthocyanins: cyanidin-4-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside.
what is okra good for?
Because of its composition, okra is a vegetable rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and flavonoids beneficial for cardiovascular health. It has antioxidant, laxative and diuretic properties.
It is suitable in any balanced diet for healthy fiber intake.
More information on okra recipes and properties in the listing above.
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This material is for informational purposes only. In case of doubt, consult the doctor.