This is one of my comfort foods! As the name says it all, my Okra Natto is a simple dish made with my favorite ingredients: okra & natto! It's simple, light and healthy. A touch of soy sauce is all you need to season them.
Meanwhile, place okra on a cutting board. Sprinkle salt (about 1/2 tsp) over the okra and roll them gently back and forth to massage. Leave the salt on and set aside. This step is to remove the tiny hair on the surface.
Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium or medium high. Add 1/2 tsp of salt to the water then gently drop the salt covered okra (from step 2) to the pot to avoid water splashing. Cook for about 2 minutes then immediately transfer the okra to ice bath to stop cooking. Remove okra from the ice bath and gently pat dry them to remove excess water.
Cut off the very top of the okra and slice them thinly (about 1/8-inch.) Transfer to a small prep bowl.
Combine with natto and add soy sauce. Use chopsticks and move in a circular motion to mix. Keep stirring vigorously until the mixture becomes stringy.
Serve as is as an appetizer or top over a warm bowl of rice. Drizzle extra soy sauce if necessary.
Notes
It’s best served with steamed Japanese rice (or any starchy rice.)