Published Aug 28, 2006 Updated Sep 19, 2024
Lady’s Finger Recipe
Lady’s finger, or okra, is my favorite vegetable. I love it for its unique taste, texture, and even its distinctive slime! Growing up, I used to affectionately call lady’s fingers “slimy vegetables.” My favorite lady’s finger recipe is sambal lady’s finger, or sambal okra. It’s cooked with Malaysian sambal sauce. Sambal is a chili-based paste typically made from a mixture of chili peppers, shallots, and shrimp paste, with optional aromatics like garlic, turmeric, and lemongrass to enhance its flavor. My sambal lady’s finger recipe uses fresh okra, sambal, and shrimp. Despite the simplicity of its ingredients, this dish offers robust and bold flavors. It’s incredibly healthy and delicious, often served as a side dish or part of a larger meal. It pairs perfectly with hot steamed rice, making it a staple in many meals. This recipe truly highlights the best qualities of this unique vegetable, and the cooking method brings out the unique flavor and texture. It’s undoubtedly the best lady’s finger recipe, and you ought to try it out!
Lady’s Finger Vegetable
Lady’s fingers, also known as okra, belongs to the mallow family and is distinguished by its edible green seed pods covered in tiny hairs. In South Asia and Southeast Asia, it is commonly used in curry and stir-fries. In the southern United States, fried okras are very popular, and it is also a key ingredient in many Creole cuisines, such as the iconic dish gumbo. Okra lady fingers become sticky and slimy when cooked because of a natural substance called mucilage. This gooey texture helps thicken dishes like soups and stews, and it’s why okra is popular in gumbo—it adds texture and helps bind ingredients together.
Sambal Lady’s Finger Ingredients
My lady’s finger recipe calls for only a few main ingredients:
Fresh lady’s fingers – for best results in cooking, choose fresh, young and firm pods with smooth, bright green color around 2-3 inches long. Avoid ones that are dry, tough, or fibrous. Sambal – sambal is the cornerstone of this recipe. It spices up the ingredients and gives a rich and bold taste profile. Shrimp – you can skip the shrimp in this recipe, but adding it can elevate the dish and add a delightful taste. Garlic – the aromatic minced garlic completes this stir-fry dish, adding depth and enhancing the overall flavor.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Sambal Okra
Helpful Tips For Home Cooks
Here are some helpful tips to ensure your sambal okra turns out perfectly:
Wash the lady’s fingers thoroughly and pat them dry with paper towels. Excess moisture can make them slimy when cooked. Trim off the cap and the stem end. Preheat the wok thoroughly before cooking. Ensure your wok or pan is hot before adding the oil and ingredients. This helps to cook the lady’s fingers quickly and evenly. Cooking lady’s finger vegetable quickly over high heat can also help reduce its slimy texture. Avoid excessive stirring while cooking lady’s finger to minimize the slime. You may also toss the lady’s fingers with a little bit of lemon juice before cooking to reduce sliminess. Make sure your shrimp are dry before adding them to the wok; excess moisture will make the oil splatter.
What To Serve With Sambal Okra
For a wholesome Malaysian home cooked meal, I recommend the following recipes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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