Okra—also known as lady’s-fingers, gumbo, or bhindi— is a flowering plant with edible seed pods that keeps on giving all summer long. When you harvest a pod, another grows in its place. It’s related to the hibiscus plant and produces similarly beautiful flowers. Okra grows best in warm climates.

Okra is an affordable protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, dietary fiber, and other phytonutrients with physiological benefits. The vitamin C in okra helps support healthy immune function. Okra is also rich in vitamin K, which helps your body clot blood. Okra seeds contain a considerable amount of edible oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids.