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Create a quick and nutritious meal with our single serving Pan Fried Okra and Tomatoes recipe, perfect for one. This easy-to-make dish features crispy okra, ripe tomatoes, savory bacon, and onions, offering a delicious blend of flavors. Ideal for busy evenings, it provides a balanced and tasty option for dinner.
Enjoy okra and tomatoes alongside succulent baked chicken thighs, buttery cornbread, hearty brown rice, or a fresh, crisp green salad drizzled with homemade vinaigrette.
Why You’ll Love This Pan Fried Okra Recipe
- Quick & Easy: This meal cooks in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Flavorful: The combination of crispy okra, sweet tomatoes, and savory bacon creates a delightful flavor profile.
- Healthy & Hearty: Okra is a good source of fiber and vitamins, making this dish a healthy and satisfying side.
- Customizable: Feel free to add your favorite herbs or spices.
- Single Serving Perfection: This recipe is perfectly portioned for one person.
What Does Okra Taste Like?
Okra has a unique taste; it’s mildly earthy and slightly sweet. When cooked well, like in this recipe, the okra develops a pleasant crispy exterior.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this okra and tomatoes recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Olive oil: Used for pan frying, but you can use any other neutral cooking oil as well.
- Bacon: It adds a savory depth to the dish. If you’re vegetarian, you could use smoked tofu or a plant-based meat substitute. Got extra bacon? Use it in Pasta Carbonara, Potato Soup, or Bacon, Egg and Cheese Cup.
- Onions: They add a wonderful aroma and sweetness. Shallots can be a suitable substitute.
- Okra: The star ingredient of the dish, okra can be replaced by zucchini or green beans if it’s out of season.
- Tomatoes: They provide a fresh, tangy contrast to the other ingredients. Canned tomatoes can work as a substitute when fresh ones aren’t available.
Recipe Variations
- Vegetarian: Skip the bacon and add mushrooms for a vegetarian twist.
- Spicy: Add some cayenne pepper or sliced jalapeños for a spicy kick.
- Herbed: Toss in some fresh herbs like basil or cilantro for added flavor.
- With Cheese: Sprinkle some grated cheese on top before serving for a cheesy version.
- Lemon Zest: Add a bit of lemon zest for a refreshing citrus note.
Identifying Fresh Okra
- Look for okra that has a vibrant green color, indicating its freshness.
- The texture should be firm to the touch. Avoid any okra that feels soft or has brown spots, as these are signs of spoilage.
Storing Fresh Okra:
- Proper storage is crucial to maintain the okra’s freshness. Keep the okra dry by wrapping it in a paper towel or a brown paper bag. This helps absorb any moisture and prevents spoilage.
- Place the wrapped okra in your refrigerator’s vegetable drawer. This environment is ideal for preserving its freshness.
- Fresh okra will typically last in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. If you find you won’t use it within this time frame, consider freezing it for longer storage.
How To Clean And Freeze Okra
Cleaning Okra:
- Combine 8 cups of water with 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
- Soak the okra in this solution for 15 minutes, then rinse.
- Thoroughly dry the okra with a kitchen towel.
Freezing Okra:
Fresh whole okra, often referred to as “lady fingers” due to its shape, should have flawless skin when purchased. Here’s how to freeze it:
- Preparation: Following the cleaning steps above, wash the okra. Carefully trim off the stems, avoiding cutting into the seeds.
- Blanching: Place the okra in boiling water and steam for 3 minutes.
- Cooling: Immediately transfer the blanched okra to a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process. Allow the okra to cool for 3 minutes before draining it.
- Chopping: You can leave the okra whole or slice it into bite-sized pieces. Chopped okra is more convenient for soups, stews, or this pan-fried okra and tomatoes recipe. If you prefer, leave them whole and chop them after thawing when ready to use.
- Freezing: Arrange the okra in a single layer on a cookie sheet and place it in the freezer until frozen solid, preventing clumping.
- Storing: Once frozen, move the okra to a freezer bag and return it to the freezer. It remains at its best quality if used within a year. When adding frozen okra to soups or stews, you can put it in directly without thawing.
How To Pan Fry Okra
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make this pan fried okra and tomatoes recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Cook Bacon: Begin by cooking a slice of bacon in a medium-sized skillet. Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a plate. You have the choice to cook it whole or chop it before cooking.
- Cook Onions: Next, add the chopped onions to the skillet, cooking them in the bacon grease until they soften. Once done, remove them from the pan.
- Cook Okra: If using fresh okra, trim the tops and ends and slice into 1/2-inch pieces. Frozen, thawed, chopped okra can be used as an alternative. Add the okra and salt to the pan. Cook for about 10 minutes until tender, stirring gently once.
- Combine Ingredients: Finally, add the chopped tomatoes, cooked bacon, and onions to the pan. Cook for another 2 minutes. For this recipe, you’ll need 4-ounces of chopped tomatoes, equivalent to 2 small Roma tomatoes or 8 to 10 cherry tomatoes.
Expert Tips
- Pat the okra dry before frying for extra crispiness.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking the okra. This ensures even browning and crisping.
- Cook the okra undisturbed for a few minutes to allow it to brown properly
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Frozen okra is a great option when fresh okra is not in season or available. Thaw the okra in the refrigerator before using it in this recipe and pat dry to remove any moisture.
Fresh is preferred for texture, but canned can be used in a pinch. Be sure to drain and dry the canned okra to remove excess moisture.
While this dish is best enjoyed fresh, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan over low heat.
Okra is highly nutritious and offers several health benefits. It’s a low-calorie food that is rich in dietary fiber. Okra is packed with vitamins including A, C, K, and several B-complex vitamins. Additionally, it’s a good source of beta-carotene and niacin.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
I use a 10-inch skillet for this pan fried okra and tomatoes recipe. For best results, use a pan of similar size.
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
Pan Fried Okra and Tomatoes For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 slice bacon , cut into ¼-inch pieces
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ pound whole okra , ends and tops trimmed, then cut into ½-inch pieces
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 small Roma tomatoes , chopped (4-ounces) or use 8 grape tomatoes sliced in half.
Instructions
- In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, heat oil 30 seconds. Add bacon and cook until crisp, about 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
- Add the onions to the bacon drippings in the skillet and cook, stirring often until caramelized, 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and place on the plate with the bacon.
- Add the okra to the skillet along with the salt. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring once gently, until okra is tender.
- Add the bacon, onions, and tomatoes and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve warm.
Notes
- Pat the okra dry before frying for extra crispiness.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking the okra. This ensures even browning and crisping.
- Cook the okra undisturbed for a few minutes to allow it to brown properly.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Since I love okra, I knew this recipe would get 5 stars before I cooked it. It’s the perfect “gateway” recipe for those new to preparing okra. The balance of flavors is exactly on target. Red wine vinegar or cider vinegar are usually good on okra and tomatoes, or even a dash of hot sauce. For this version, the bacon is more than enough. Fire-roasted canned tomatoes are a nice twist. Wonderful recipe!
Thank you so much for your feedback. I’m so happy you enjoyed this okra recipe.
I just picked my first two okra in my garden today so naturally I had to prepare it. Your recipe worked out beautifully. I did add some cumin, Curry, Ginger and paprika. My overall will be coming on strong and my tomatoes are also producing well so I’ll be enjoying this Dish as long as the season lasts. Thank you
I’m thrilled to hear that your first harvest of okra turned out beautifully! Adding cumin, curry, ginger, and paprika sounds like a fantastic idea – I’ll have to try that myself.
My mother always cooked this and we love it. She would even can her okra and tomatoes together. Thank you for reminding me. Our garden is just now coming in.
This makes cooking for one convenient and pleasurable with less waste. Great recipes. Love the Okra and tomato recipe.
This is exactly how I like my okra and tomatoes. So delicious!