Spicy Okra Salad with a garlic chili sauce and dried shrimps dressing. Very appetizing and best served with a bowl of steamed rice.
Okra has a mild flavor but somewhat unusual texture. When cut, it releases a sticky substance that is often used to thicken soups and stews. To minimize sliminess, keeping the pods whole helps. Perhaps one of the best way to eat this vegetable is to steam it. This mild vegetable is delicious dressed with a tangy and spicy sauce enhanced with the intense flavor of dried shrimps.
Dried Shrimps
Dried shrimps are shrimps that have been sun dried. They have a rather unique taste that is different from fresh shrimps. Some may even say they have the so-called umami flavor. A little of this ingredient goes a long way as it is salty and pretty intense. It is often used in East Asian and Southeast Asian cooking.
Okra a.k.a. Ladies’ Fingers
Back where I grew up, okra was known as “ladies’ fingers”. They were relatively inexpensive and easily available. They continue to be popular to this day and are frequently used in curries and spicy stir fries.This Spicy Okra Salad recipe is a slight adaption of my Mom’s recipe. Mom makes her own chili mixture but I am taking the easy way out by using ready made chili sauce.
Similar Tools Used in Making This Spicy Okra Salad
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• Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Saucepan with Steamer Insert, 4 1/2-quart
• Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Cup and Spoon Set
Spicy Okra Salad with a garlic chili sauce and dried shrimps dressing. Very appetizing and best served with a bowl of steamed rice.
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ¼ cup dried shrimps (washed and soaked for 10 minutes) (30g)
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp garlic chili sauce
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 lb okra (trimmed) (450g)
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Drain dried shrimp and chop coarsely.
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In a small saucepan, heat vegetable oil over low heat. Add dried shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes.
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Transfer together with the oil into a small bowl. Add lime juice, garlic chili sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. Stir to combine.
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Place okra in a steamer and steam 7 to 8 minutes. When pierced with a fork, okra should be tender.
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Remove and place on a plate. Spoon shrimp mixture over okra. Serve immediately.
NOTE: This post was updated on September 19th, 2013 with new pictures.
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Kristi Rimkus says
May 12, 2010 at 2:31 pmI haven't tried okra yet. As soon as we get moved and I have a kitchen again, I want to start expanding my cooking experiences. This looks like a great place to start!
Lisa says
May 12, 2010 at 2:39 pmThis look so good! Love okra grilled, in stew and steamed but never had it with dried shrimp . Can't wait to try this ! Thank you and great photos
Rick says
May 12, 2010 at 3:03 pmYou always have the best ingredients!
kamalika says
May 12, 2010 at 3:05 pmThe dish looks grt dear…never thought of okra adding in a salad dish..very unique indeed…
Lazaro says
May 12, 2010 at 5:02 pmOkra is such an under appreciated veg. I love to use dried shrimps as well. Great job.
Cheers!
Shree says
May 12, 2010 at 5:04 pmI love Okra 🙂 Nice recipe
Jay says
May 12, 2010 at 5:32 pmHy Biren,
wonderful recipe with colorful click…you are rocking dear with new healthy recipes…
The Housewife says
May 12, 2010 at 5:57 pmI've never tried making okra this way. I'll should try it out.
Angie's Recipes says
May 12, 2010 at 6:26 pmA very unique and delicious-looking salad!
lequan@luvtoeat says
May 12, 2010 at 7:57 pmThat is such a unique way to eat okra. The dried shrimp will definitely add some great flavor to the okra. We usually steam the okra as well and dip in fish sauce mixed with lime juice and garlic chili paste. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipe Biren, will have to try it next tine we have okra. Have a wonderful day.
Dongxing says
May 12, 2010 at 7:58 pmBiren, what a coincidence! I just bought some okra from the market and is scratching my head on what to do with it. I have only ever cook okra in a salmon and vegetable curry so far. I will definitely cook this for dinner tomorrow – the full monty, dried shrimps and all! My husband dislike the taste and smell of dried shrimps but I am thinking "less man more share" for me! Thanks for the great idea
anncoo says
May 12, 2010 at 2:59 pmI love okra, especially with sambal chilli.
Yummy Team says
May 13, 2010 at 12:13 amWonderful recipe!! I am sure I would love this salad..Will definitely try it out soon..
sweetlife says
May 13, 2010 at 12:37 amwe love okra..my girls kinds freak out when it's slimy..but I love it..Oh we use the dried shrimp to flavor our rice..it gives it such a great taste..
great salad for denise's challenge
sweetlife
penny aka jeroxie says
May 13, 2010 at 1:44 amI love okras in my curries. But this looks good too.
rotinrice says
May 13, 2010 at 2:56 amGlad you found a recipe to cook the okra. Do check out these two other recipes http://rotinrice.blogspot.com/2010/04/okra-and-ch… andhttp://rotinrice.blogspot.com/2010/04/okra-and-ca… . You can also do a search using the search engine at the end of my blog archive and labels.
Cook with Madin says
May 12, 2010 at 10:40 pmHi Biren, I love okra, and dried shrimp. This recipe looks great. Thank you for sharing.
Cheah says
May 13, 2010 at 4:59 amI love okra cooked this way too. Your pictures esp the one with all those stacked up is so cute!
redkathy says
May 13, 2010 at 5:05 amOh boy this sounds great! my family loves okra, I'll be trying this one out for sure. Thanks for sharing it.
the lacquer spoon says
May 13, 2010 at 5:17 amThanks for the tasty recipe! Japanese loves okra too, and amazing to find the different cooking method from us 🙂
Emily says
May 13, 2010 at 7:11 amI've always looked for new recipes for okra and I've found one 🙂 I only wish that I can find dried shrimps where I live.
Great recipe and photos! They look fab!
Cherine says
May 13, 2010 at 8:39 amThis salad looks so good!!!
tigerfish says
May 13, 2010 at 8:45 amI like okra. One way to make use of the "sticky substance" is to cook a stew where the thick consistency is much needed, like a gumbo. Of course, I like it steamed too.
denise fletcher says
May 13, 2010 at 2:14 pmFantastic Biren! Looks so appetising. My grandma used to love this and made it very often when I was growing up! Pity my kids don't like typically Asian fare like this – I miss my grandma, looking at this! Now I have no "kaki" to eat this with LOL
bunkycooks says
May 13, 2010 at 2:24 pmI am cooking up some okra this season, too. Trying to convert the hubby! I am a brave soul playing around on FB today…Thanks to you and Denise for the info.
petite nyonya says
May 13, 2010 at 2:37 pmMy late mom used to make okra similar to this too, using sambal belacan. I love it with lots of dried prawns!
Reeni says
May 14, 2010 at 12:04 amI never had okra! The way you've presented it here is beautiful! It looks positively delicious!
I Just Love My Apron says
May 14, 2010 at 7:17 amI had Okra with a Thai dressing long way back when I lived in Thailand. This brings back my good old memory. The salad looks so yummy!
HeatherFeather says
May 14, 2010 at 12:18 pmBiren – how on earth do you do it. You made okra, a vegetable I have always thought of as slimy and unattractive – look like a fashion statement. I actually do like the taste of okra, but your photos might win over some new fans. Nice job!
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:15 pmAll the best with the move 🙂
Okra is really quite delicious. We enjoy it.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:16 pmThanks Lisa! I'll have to try grilling it. I am sure it'll be good with the same dressing.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:16 pmThat's really tasty.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:16 pmThanks Rick!
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:17 pmThanks kamalika! It is a very simple recipe but very tasty.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:18 pmYes, you are right there. Okra is under appreciated. The dried shrimp really give the dish a lot of flavor.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:18 pmThanks Shree!
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:18 pmThanks Jay!
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:19 pmI hope you'll give it a try.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:19 pmThanks Angie!
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:20 pmThanks LeQuan! Your fish sauce dressing sounds interesting. Must be tasty.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:21 pmThanks Madin!
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:21 pmThank you.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:22 pmIt takes a little getting used to but steaming it whole cuts down on the sliminess.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:23 pmThanks Cheah! Okra is so tasty. I love it in curries too.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:24 pmYou don't see too many recipes with okra out there but it is actually quite a delicious vegetable.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:25 pmWe like okra too. There are so many delicious ways of preparing it 🙂
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:27 pmI hope you'll find the dried shrimps as it give the dish a lot of flavor.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:27 pmThanks Cherine!
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:27 pmYes, it is a good thickening agent.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:29 pmI say, it is a real pity that you don't have "kaki" to share this with. Make it for yourself on those rare occasions when you are alone 🙂
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:31 pmI hope you are successful in converting hubby. It is always more enjoyable when the hubby likes it too 🙂
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:31 pmYes, the dried shrimps really give it a lot of flavor.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:32 pmThanks Reeni! Maybe it is time to give it a try 🙂
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:33 pmI am glad it brought back good memories 🙂 You should try cooking it sometime.
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 4:33 pmYou are sweet! It is actually quite a tasty vegetable 🙂
rotinrice says
May 17, 2010 at 8:59 pmOkras are really good in curries but do give this a try 🙂