Crispy Oven Okra is roasted to perfection with a flavorful crunch and served with a delicious, Lemon-Dill and Garlic Aioli.

If you love roasted vegetables, make sure you check out my Lemon Pepper Roasted Cauliflower as well as this delicious Baked Parsnip Chips recipe. Don’t forget dessert! These Baked Honeycrisp Apples with Butter Pecan and Brown Sugar Topping will become everyone’s favorite!

Okra and African Roots

Okra has always been part of my diet since childhood. With its African roots, this vegetable also became a favorite in soul food recipes. Okra also expanded across all continents while also being part of the African Heritage diet. As for okra, I always loved it fried. I remember growing up, my Mom would make black-eyed peas and I would cringe if a squishy piece of okra would somehow make its way to my plate. Having okra prepared that way is truly an acquired taste. However…that was then.

Crispy Oven Okra with Lemon-Dill Garlic Aioli

But fried okra? Whew, yes! Especially if it came from Church’s Chicken. Church’s was my Mom’s favorite place to stop to grab a quick bite. A 2-piece snack with a biscuit and a pepper to be exact. To this day, I will go through the drive-thru and order a family-size okra just for GP. Back then, if you had to wait in line too long, they would offer a courtesy drink. You HAD to get the strawberry drank (aka drink). It’s a staple in the black community!

Back to the Okra

Fried was really the only way I enjoyed okra over the years. That was until I had an Indian dish called Bhindi Masala – fresh okra cooked with exotic spices, onion, and bell pepper. Yes, it’s the semi-squishy kind, but this one was just different — and so delicious! Then there’s African Okro Soup. This okra soup is so flavorful and typically served with Fufu.

Last summer we attempted to grow okra, but to no avail. Well…we had ONE okra to sprout. Exhibit A. This year was started too late. But that’s okay. We are going to try again next year.

For the past few years, I’ve wanted to make some type of pan-style okra dish, and I finally did! This Crispy Oven Okra comes with a Lemon Dill and Garlic Aioli. It is absolutely divine in all of its roasted glory, and perfect as we welcome fall!

You WILL clear out an entire pan by yourself. It’s vegan-friendly and perfect for gatherings (when it’s safe to reconvene). I do encourage this to be served fresh out of the oven to enjoy the roasted crispiness!

Check out these amazing recipes as part of the Black History Month Virtual Potluck that includes over 33+ Black Food Bloggers and Content Creators as we explore food through the lens of Afrofuturism.

Other recipes to enjoy!

Lemon-Pepper Roasted Cauliflower

Bacon and Blue Cheese Brussels Sprouts

Kale Vegetable Celebration Salad with Walnuts

I hope you love this okra recipe! It’s especially a great addition to the fall and winter as well as Soul Food Sunday menu. For more food and recipes, you can find me at @myprettybrowneats on Instagram and TikTok, as well as, “My Pretty Brown Eats” on Facebook and Pinterest! You can also tag me and follow the #myprettybrowneats hashtag. I hope to see you soon!