Okra is a member of the Malavaceae, or mallow, family. Other members of this family include cotton and hibiscus. Okra flowers are as beautiful as hibiscus. Okra is said to have originated in Northern Africa. The name for a popular okra dish, “gumbo”, is actually a corruption of the Angolan name for the vegetable. Okra exudes a goo that thickens any dish and for this reason is often used in soups and stews. Of course, here in the south it is most commonly seen fried. Okra is high in Vitamin C and folate, and contains other B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and manganese, as well as fiber.
OKRA
