Okra, also known in some English-speaking countries as lady's fingers, is a flowering plant in the mallow family native to West Africa, cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world for its edible seed pods, which are typically green though red in some cultivars, and it is used in the cuisines of many countries.
Facts
Earliest Documented Use, From (Year) Origin RegionEast Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, eastern Sudan) 1 Okra
Connections
Used By
Source Bhindi fry (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Cou-cou
Source Louisiana Creole Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Source Okra soup (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, originated there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: East Africa, originated there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Eritrea, originated there.
Sources
1. Okra, Wikipedia
Origin and distribution, origin
Okra originated in East Africa in Ethiopia, Eritrea and eastern Sudan.
Origin and distribution, earliest account
One of the earliest accounts is by Abu al-Abbas al-Nabati, who visited Ayyubid Egypt in 1216 and described the plant under cultivation by the locals who ate the tender young pods with meal.
Used By: Brazilian Cuisine, Culinary, Brazil
In Brazil, it is an important component of several regional dishes, such as caruru, made with shrimp, in the Northeastern region, and frango com quiabo (chicken with okra) and carne refogada com quiabo (stewed meat with okra) in Minas Gerais.
Used By: Gumbo, Culinary
Okra is one of three thickeners that may be used in gumbo soup from Louisiana.
View the SourceBhindi fry (Wikipedia)
Used By: Bhindi fry, Infobox main_ingredient field: Okra, Oil, SpicesView the Source Wikipedia: Cou-cou
Used By: Cou-cou, lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Cou-cou, lead paragraph
It consists mainly of cornmeal (corn flour) and okra (ochroes).
Okra soup (Wikipedia)
Used By: Okra soup, lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Okra soup, lead paragraph
Okra or Okro is a soup made from the pods of the Okra plant, cooked in a wide variety of ways across several cultures and continents.
Louisiana Creole Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Louisiana Creole Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Louisiana Creole Cuisine, Wikipedia article text
The dish is a Louisiana version of West African okra soups which the dish gumbo is named for.
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