Can Babies Eat Okra?

Okra, also known as ladies’ fingers is a flowering plant valued for its edible green seed pods. Its origin is debated, but it is supported to be found in West African regions. The plant is grown in subtropical and tropical regions worldwide.

The pods are usually cooked, pickled, eaten raw or used as ingredients in salads. Okra becomes slimy when in contact with water or when being cooked. A trick to de-slime okra is to cook it with another acidic ingredient, like tomatoes. Okra seeds are pressed into edible okra oil, having a pleasant taste and smell, and being high in unsaturated fats.

Okra is mostly composed of water, but it has protein, carbs, dietary fibers and some fat too. Okra is high in vitamins K, B1, B9 and C, but it also has significant amounts of vitamins A, B2, B3 and E, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc. Okra has solanine, which can be toxic and cause joint pain, just like the same compound in potatoes, tomatoes, artichokes, eggplant and in blueberries. Okra prevents cancer, helps fight diabetes, lowers the risks of heart diseases, strokes and obesity. The high level of vitamin K plays an important role in bone formation and blood clotting.

Buying & Storing Okra

When buying fresh okra, it is important to look for velvety and young pods, which should not be longer than 10cm, because longer ones are usually tough and woody. Okra turns slimy and rots pretty quickly if you wash it, so wash it only if you plan to use it.

When Can Okra Be Introduced Into A Baby’s Diet?

Parents can introduce okra into their babies’ diet when they start eating solid food at the age of 6 months old. The dietary fibers help prevent constipation and keep a healthy digestive system.

Easy Okra Bake

Ingredients: 2 cups of sliced okra, 1 large and chopped tomato, 1 small chopped onion, 1 small chopped red bell pepper, ¾ cup fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs, ½ cup of grated Cheddar cheese.

Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Grease an oven proof dish and spread the okra in a layer. Sprinkle the okra with a little olive oil and add the other vegetables. Cover loosely with foil and bake until tender, approximately for 45 minutes. Mix the breadcrumbs with the grated Cheddar cheese. Remove the foil and tip with the breadcrumbs cheese mixture. Put back into the oven and bake until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melted.