• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Easy and Delish logo

  • About
    • Meet Denise!
    • COOKBOOK
    • Contact
    • Press
  • All Recipes
  • BRAZILIAN FOOD
  • Conversions
    • How Many Sticks of Butter in a Cup?
    • How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon?
    • Temperature Conversion (Chart & Calculator)
    • US Cups to Ounces to Grams for Common Ingredients (Charts)
    • Volume Conversions (Table for Dry & Liquid Ingredients)
    • Baking Substitutions (with Charts & Tables)
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Português
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Página Inicial
  • About
  • Sobre Mim
  • All Recipes
  • Todas as Receitas
  • Shop
  • Conversions
  • Vídeos
  • Português
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Brazilian Recipes

    Published: Aug 15, 2012 · Modified: Feb 13, 2020 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 8 Comments

    Okra Tomato Salad (Salada de Quiabo com Tomate)

    Gluten FreeDairy FreeVegetarian

    Jump to Recipe ↓

    An easy, healthy, and delicious Okra tomato salad dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette sauce. A recipe from the cookbook 'The Brazilian Table'.

    I had been hearing a lot about the Brazilian Chef Yara Castro Roberts and her extraordinary cookbook ‘The Brazilian Table,’ but only recently did I have honor of meeting her in person. Her okra tomato salad is the dish that we are sharing with you today.

    cookbook on a tableI was invited to an event for professional chefs at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)- San Antonio this past Tuesday, August the 7th, featuring the signing of her book,  followed by a presentation about her work.

    Book signing Two people standing in front of a group of people posing for the camera

    Then on Saturday the 11th, I had the opportunity to attend a dinner at NAO, CIA's new restaurant, located at the Pearl Brewery. The menu was entirely Brazilian, highlighting recipes which can be found in Chef Roberts' cookbook. The completely packed house had the pleasure of tasting a six-course meal as follows:

    A close up of a dinner menu

           A tray of food  A plate of saladA glass with mousse

    Every single dish, without exception, was an absolute delight to the senses, although I do have to confess that there was one that impressed me most of all: the Okra Tomato Salad. Why?

    A bowl of okra salad

    Professional chefs know that it is much easier to impress with a sophisticated dish than with a simple one. That's right! As incredible as it might sound, the simplest dishes are often the most difficult ones to present. This is due to the amount of thought and skill needed to bring out their outstanding qualities in spite of their simplicity.

    Well, I can say that at table after table, the diners that evening were highly impressed with the Okra Tomato Salad, including myself.

    Forget any preconceived idea that you may have about okra...

    This one was cooked al dente and perfectly seasoned. It was interesting to experience the balance between its acidic and alkaline elements and the contrast of textures (the softness of the tomatoes and the crunchiness of the okra).

    The best thing of all: I can enjoy this and the many other dishes served there again and again, since the recipes for them are all in her cookbook. Oh, I am telling you, this is a must-have cookbook for its ultra-delicious recipes, for the culinary history and personal stories that fill its pages,  and of course for the stunning pictures. Page after page, I felt as though I was being transported back home, with the advantage of not having to take an airplane. 🙂

    The hardest moment of all was pulling myself away from gazing at her vibrant book-- a book that made me smile wide, but also filled me with nostalgia...

    I don't have words enough to thank Chef Yara Roberts for putting together such a masterpiece, for presenting and representing Brazil with such dignity and sensibility, and for being the friendly and fascinating person that she seems to be. After this memorable experience, she became more to me than an icon of the culinary world, she earned my respect and admiration.

    Well, this is not all. I got a taste for more! So, see you next year at your school in Brazil, Chef Roberts!

    And you, my dear reader, see you real soon in order for us to prepare together the best-tasting okra tomato salad dish ever.

    xx

    A bowl of okra salad with garnishes on the side

    Note: A special thanks to Claudio and Juliana Martins for several of the pictures shown here, and for their friendship. I love you, guys!

    A bowl of okra salad on a table
    Print SAVE Saved Recipe! Pin
    No ratings yet

    Okra Tomato Salad

    An easy, healthy, and delicious Okra tomato salad dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette sauce. A recipe from the cookbook 'The Brazilian Table', authored by Chef Yara Roberts.
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 2 minutes
    Total Time 22 minutes
    Servings 3
    Author Denise Browning

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups medium to small okra
    • 4 cups water
    • 4-½ teaspoons salt divided
    • 2 tablespoons vinegar
    • 3 ripe tomatoes
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • Black pepper to taste
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds

    Instructions

    • Clean the okra with a paper towel and set aside. In a large saucepan, bring water, 1-½ teaspoon salt, and vinegar to a boil. Blanch ½ of the okra for 3 minutes, strain, and immerse in a bowl with ice and water. Strain well and set aside. Do remaining batch in same water.**
    • Quarter the tomatoes. Seed and remove the center parts. Cut the tomatoes lengthwise into 8 pieces, similar to the size of the okra. You should have about 1-½ cups.
    • Place the cut tomatoes in a strainer and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt. Let drain for 15 minutes.
    • In a small bowl, place 1 teaspoon salt, sugar, and black pepper. Whisk in the balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
    • Toss the okra with the tomatoes and ⅔ of the dressing. Spread the rest of the dressing in the center of a decorative plate. Make a mound with the vegetables and sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds.
    • ** This technique (step 1) will avoid okra getting mushy after cooked. Recipe from 'The Brazilian Table' cookbook, page 90.

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

     

    « Easy Passion Fruit Cake (Bolo de Maracujá)
    Caramel Apple Streusel Cake (Bolo de Maçã com Calda de Caramelo e Farofa Alemã) »

    Filed Under: Brazilian Recipes, Easy And Delish, Easy Dairy-Free Recipes, Easy Gluten-Free Recipes, Easy Side Dishes, Easy Vegetarian Recipes, Quick & Easy Recipes Tagged With: Minas Gerais, salad, Tomato

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Please read our privacy policies before subscribing

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. hungrysofia says

      August 15, 2012 at 9:16 pm

      This looks sooooo perfect for summer!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        August 15, 2012 at 10:26 pm

        Thanks, Sofia! It's good to hear from you again. xx

        Reply
    2. Juliana says

      August 15, 2012 at 11:04 pm

      We love you! Perfect description of a wonderful and delicious experience!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        August 15, 2012 at 11:13 pm

        Thanks so much, Ju! It was a great night indeed. xx

        Reply
    3. Claudio says

      August 16, 2012 at 6:00 am

      Denise it is always a pleasure to have you around us. Next time we have to get the whole family together. Beijao.

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        August 16, 2012 at 1:21 pm

        Thanks, Claudio! I love to be with y'all too. Let's get all together one of these days... xx

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Vegan Tofu Moqueca – My WordPress says:
      October 31, 2021 at 2:55 pm

      […] Inspired by EasyAndDelish […]

      Reply
    2. Okra-Tomato Salad – My WordPress says:
      October 31, 2021 at 2:55 pm

      […] Inspired by: Easyanddelish […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




     

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Denise Browning!

    photo of Denise Browning smiling
    I'm a professional Chef with an expertise in Brazilian food. I am also a busy mom of two girls, living in Texas. Here you will find budget-friendly, healthy Brazilian and Global Recipes made Easy and Delish! I'd love to help you feed your family healthy dinners (many low carb) with a few splurges because life is all about balance! Join our community and happy cooking!

    About Me

    ORDER NOW!

    Cover of The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook by Denise Browning

    GET YOUR COPY NOW!

    The easy keto dessert ebook cover
    Subscribe for FREE Email Updates
    Receive EASY & DELISH recipes for free every week! Please check our PRIVACY POLICY!

     

    Marketing by
    Click here & join us on PINTEREST
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • PortuguêsPortuguês
    Portrait of Denise Browning, author of Easy and Delish

    Hi, I'm Denise Browing a professional chef and cookbook author. My mission is to help you cook budget-friendly, healthy global meals for your family with some occasional splurges. They are sure to bring a lot of excitement to your table

    More about me →

    Popular

    • A close up of beef brisket with veggies
      Easy & Juicy Beef Brisket Recipe
    • A bowl of cabbage soup
      The BEST Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe and 7-Day Diet Soup Chart (Printable)
    • A pot of shrimp in coconut sauce
      One Pot Shrimp in Coconut Sauce
    • close up de camarao internacional sendo regado com o molho
      Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet Recipe (5-Ingredient)

    Order Now!

    Cover of The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook by Denise Browning

    Get Your Copy Now!

    The easy keto dessert ebook cover
    Click Here & Join Us on Pinterest

    Seasonal

    • close up of an Easter bundt cake amde with sour cream and chocolate, topped with chocolate ganache, and decorated with Easter eggs.
      Easter Bundt Cake
    • close up of a sheet pan with keto chicken fajitas garlished with lime wedges.
      Keto Chicken Fajitas (Skillet or Sheet Pan)
    • close up of a jar with maple dijon vinaigrette and a spoon pouring the dressing into it.
      Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
    • several slices of air fryer garlic bread in a tray with a bowl of melted garlic butter on the side.
      Air Fryer Garlic Bread

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes | Brazilian Recipes | Contact | Privacy Policy

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Easy and Delish