What’s The Difference Between Red Okra and Green Okra?

Okra is a vegetable that can be used in many different dishes. It is often served fried, boiled, or pickled. Okra can be eaten raw or cooked. Some people like to eat it with other vegetables, such as tomatoes and onions. Some may even enjoy it on their own.

There are two types of okra: green and red. Okra is a good source of many health benefits.

Check out this article to know the differences between green and red okra!

What is Okra?

Okra, which is sometimes called “lady’s fingers”, grows in both green and red pods. It is a flowering plant that originated in Africa. The okra plants are usually tall and bushy with large leaves extending from the bottom. These leaves help retain water for the plant to use when it grows.

The edible part of the plant is actually a fruit/vegetable that grows from the plant. It is long, green, and sometimes looks curved.

Green Okra

Among the okra varieties available for sale in the United States, green okra is the most prevalent. It has a little acidic taste to it, but it also has a sweet taste to it. Green okra can be found in some grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and even on the front porch of your next-door neighbor (if they like to grow their own food).

Red Okra

Red okra is rarer than green okra, but they somehow have similar tastes. The only difference between these two types of Okra is their color and where they are grown.

Red Okra comes from the same plant that green okra comes from, just different seeds are planted when doing the growing process.

Difference Between Red and Green Okra

The acidity level of soil

The main difference between red and green okra is the acidity level of the soil where it was grown. Green okra has a slightly lower acidic content than red okra, which means that it is more tart than red okra. Red okra’s color also depends on how much water was used to irrigate the plants. If too much water was used, the pods would turn green instead of red.

The best way to tell which type of okra you are buying is to look at the stem part of the pod.

If it is green, then you should buy red okra. If it is brown or black, then you should buy green okra.

Color of the pod

The main difference between green and red okra is the color of the pod. The acidic level of the soil where it is grown determines whether or not an okra plant produces a green or red fruit/vegetable. Green pods are usually found in soils that have higher alkaline levels while red pods are usually harvested from areas with lower alkaline levels.

The texture of the pod

The textures of a green and red okra pod are also different. Due to its acidic content, a green okra pod is crispier than a red one. Red okra can be boiled to have a softer consistency if desired.

Taste of the pod

The tastes of a green and red okra pod are also different. Green pods have a tart, sweet flavor while the red variety has a slightly sweeter taste because it has lower acidic levels. Both varieties can be used in cooking in any way desired.

Differences in the way it is eaten

Since they have different textures, an individual would eat a green or red okra pod differently. Green pods are usually cooked and prepared in a dish, while red pods can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked.

You can also check: Is Cabbage Better For You Cooked Or Raw?

Other differences

There are other differences between red and green okra:

• Red okra is sweeter than green okra because it has lower acidic content. It also adds a nice color to dishes when added as an ingredient.
• Red okra pods tend to curl up as they mature, while green okra pods do not curl up as much as the red variety does.
• Red okra is slightly healthier than green okra because of its lower sugar content. Both types of okra are healthy, but red okra has the least amount of sugar.
• Green okra is available year-round in most grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and on your neighbor’s front porch (if they like to grow their own food). Red okra can be found at some farmers’ markets or specialty stores that sell organic vegetables/fruits.

When To Use Variety Of Okra?

Green Okra

Green okra has a sour flavor and crisp texture, thus it is best suited for usage in prepared recipes. It can be used as an ingredient in soups, stews, and stir-fry recipes.

Green okra is widely used as an ingredient in Indian recipes such as tikka masala. Green okra is found at most grocery shops year-round or can be collected from your neighbor’s front lawn (if they want to grow their own food) (if they like to grow their own food).

Red Okra

Red okra has a sweeter flavor and a more sensitive texture than okra that is green. Red okra is best utilized with mayonnaise or tartar sauce, which is frequently served with fish dishes. Also, it can be used as an ingredient in pickles, relishes, and salsas, among other things.

It is not possible to pick red okra at home (unless you reside in Texas or Florida), but it can be found in some specialized vegetable stores that specialize in organic veggies. Red okra is utilized in the preparation of barbecue sauce and is frequently found as an ingredient in stews and soups.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! Now you know the difference between green and red okra. Green okra pods are usually smaller in size with a darker shade of green while red okra pods are larger, bright red in color, and less acidic. You can use any color of the okra pod in cooking! Both are healthy and delicious.

Thank you for reading our article on what’s the difference between red okra and green okra? We hope it helped you to know more about this amazing vegetable!