Okra

vegetables · West Africa · cooking

Flowering plant relative. Okra belongs to the mallow family, which means it's actually related to cotton and hibiscus flowers, not just other vegetables.

Started in West Africa. Okra originally grew wild in West Africa and was domesticated thousands of years ago before spreading to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Edible green pods. We eat the young, tender seed pods of the okra plant, which are harvested before they get too mature and fibrous.

Used globally. Okra appears in many different cuisines around the world, from Indian curries to Southern soul food to Middle Eastern dishes.

Gets slimy when cooked. Okra releases a sticky substance when cooked that some people love because it thickens dishes, and other people avoid for that exact reason.