Chinese Okra

Chinese okra is probably not an accurate name for this vegetable because it does not taste like American okra at all. It has the watery texture of zucchini but is more like cucumber in taste. One of the most popular methods of cooking Chinese okra is stir-frying: As a side dish, stir-fry or blanch it and serve just with a lightly thickened oyster sauce. Chinese okra can be cooked with cucumbers for a hot-and-sour salad or simmered briefly in soup. It cooks quickly and can simply be sautéed in butter and shallots for an unusual Westernized accompaniment to a main dish. It has a slightly bitter flavor that is concentrated in the ridges that run lengthwise along the vegetable. These are usually pared off. Shop for firm Chinese okra.