Specific Soups and Stews: Okra Soup and Gumbos

Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) originated in Africa. The word is thought to have derived from the West African nkru-ma. The slave trade brought okra to the Caribbean, where it was cultivated by 1707. From the Caribbean, okra migrated north. Although okra could be prepared in many ways, early recipes used okra as an ingredient in soup. The first published recipe for okra soup appears in Randolph’s Virginia House-wife. After Randolph’s recipe was published, okra soup became a common entry listed in American cookbooks.