Grilled Okra and Tomatoes

Take full advantage of your grill by cooking your vegetables too. Grilled Okra and Tomatoes are a delicious grilled side that couldn’t be easier. 

Jump to:

• Why Grilled Okra
• Okra Nutrition
• Okra and Tomatoes
• With or Without the Kabob 
• Recipe

We grill a lot at Team Braddock HQ, especially in the summer. We love the flavor and ease of a whole meal that’s been grilled. Unfortunately for me, however, I quickly tire of the same ole, same ole and have to change things up. 

Why Grilled Okra

This summer I set out to grill vegetables I’ve not grilled before and figure out how to make them taste cookout-ready fantastic. There’s not much out there about how to grill okra so it inspired me to figure out my own recipe.

Okra is a polarizing vegetable, kind of like how cottage cheese either grosses you out or is your favorite. The texture of okra is very fibrous when raw, like celery, but softens significantly when cooked. It’s also a little gooey on the inside with pearl-like, edible seeds. So if texture tends to be a problem with you and food, it’s understandable why you wouldn’t like okra or are afraid to try it. 

Despite all these odds stacked against okra, I am on a bit of a mission to change people’s minds about this wonderful vegetable. Grilling makes just about anything taste better, and it’s an easy, dish-free way to cook. 

Grilling okra brings out tremendous flavor and according to my taste-tester, reduces a lot of the sticky wetness that tends to turn people off.  This dish is seasoned very simply because I think okra has a unique flavor that really shines when cooked. 

Okra Nutrition

Okra doesn’t rise to the top of anyone’s mind when they think about powerhouse vegetables, but it really should! Okra is a great source of fiber, a high antioxidant food, and contains many important vitamins and minerals like vitamin K and C, manganese, folate, calcium and magnesium. That slimy lining of okra is actually pretty powerful too as it plays a role in binding to and eliminating excess cholesterol and toxins

Okra and Tomatoes

Okra and tomatoes are often paired together as a super delicious combo. Don’t knock it till you try it! I personally love the sweet, juiciness of cooked tomatoes paired with the unique flavor of okra. 

I’ve been making my Roasted Okra and Tomatoes for years and is a favorite veggie side dish. I wondered if I could make this into a grilled version and YOU CAN!

With or Without the Kabob 

Grilled Okra and Tomato Kabobs is a beautiful way to present this combo as a cook-out side dish and can make the flipping a little easier.  I prefer to use large metal skewers like these ones but individual size skewers like these work great too. It’s all about your preference.

Using skewers is not necessary however. Read the notes in the recipe to see how to grill them in a homemade foil pan that turns out just as good. 

If you’re not in the grilling mood, check out how to make this dish in the oven here: Roasted Okra and Tomatoes. Or, if you'd like to make okra a fancy appetizer, try Okra with Smokey Red Pepper Ricotta.

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