We found these lady fingers in a supermarket last weekend, and we bought them a packet each. Their prices were the same, but their colours are different. We seldom see a red lady finger, so we give it a try.
Lady finger is also called okra in US English. In Chinese it is called “YangJiaoDou” which means the “Goat-Horn-shaped Bean“. It is also called “QiuKui” in Chinese, where “Qiu” means Autumn and “Kui” means sunflower. I do not understand why it is also called “Sunflower in the Autumn“, but this name is seldom used locally except in Taiwan or China. In Malay it is called “Bendi“, whereas its scientific name is called “Abelmoschus esculentus“.
Not everybody like to eat lady fingers because it is sticky. However, the sticky juice is actually good for reducing our body’s absorbing rate on fat and cholesterol. The thick and sticky juice is called “mucilaginous”, which is an excellent thickener for stews and soups as well.
If you do not like to eat Lady Fingers, why not give yourself a try. You don’t like to eat before doesn’t mean that you will not like it in the future. Remember, this vegetable is good for health. It is nutritious, it contains vitamin A, B9, C and Calsium and Magnesium.
Next, let me tell you what I have done in the photo session of these lady fingers. I used a wooden table to make the background dark. I set up a tripod, because I wanted to try to increase the “depth of field” by reducing the aperture. The apearture is set to f/8 which is the smallest setting on the camera. And the speed is between 1 to 2 seconds on ISO 100. The light on the ceiling is not bright enought. I used timer to prevent the shaking effect. But the timer is fixed at 10 seconds, which make me a bit impatient.
Nowadays a modern camera has 2 options for its timer, you can choose a 2 seconds timer or a 10 seconds timer. My friend has a Nikon DSLR (I forgot the model). He never needs a long timer because he got a remote control for the shutter release. He can press the shutter release without touching the camera.
I have successfully increase the depth of field, where all the lady fingers are sharp in the photo.
Red and Green are totally contrast with each other, what do you think when they are next to each other? I suddenly thought of the traffic light when I see red and green next to each other.
1Malaysia
22 users commented in " Red Lady Fingers "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis is my first time see the red lady finger. Is the taste is the same like the green one?I always think that the red colour lady finger is the one already grew old.:p well thanks for the post. You are a good photographer.
Thank you. They taste the same, but the red ones are indeed older. They produce fiber that are not chewable. I think the red ones are not suitable for frying but can be used to make curry.
Red are three times costlier?
Hi my wife just planted three pots of red ladies’ fingers. Not sure if we’re gonna fry them now after reading this
Paresh.K, the green and red have same price here. But recently we can’t find the red one anymore.
Key, you can try to harvest them earlier before they have grown too old.
Then you may be able to fry them.
Hi,
I live in wuhan, hubei province but i never found lady’s finger(qiu kui). I really love to eat lady”s finger. Could you please tell me how could I get them in wuhan city? Reply as early as possible on my email id.
I believe the green lady finger can be found easily, but I am not sure if the climate / weather at your region allows it to appear at your place. From red one, I only saw once and never see it again. Sorry I can’t really help you. May be you can find it in southern part of your country.
Dear Colin Jong,
I am glad to know that someone out there has tasted the red lady fingers because I have planted a few but never have a chance to eat them. I found its hard and not as soft as the green type that I thought it it too old and I only collect the seeds. Anyway, I will try to cook them in curry method. Thank you.
hi there, i was doing some sourcing of these red lady finger for vegetarian rest. Wonder these are being available in s’pore.
Up to today, I only saw it and bought it once.
-> Naney Chung, It’s great to hear that you have planted red lady finger. Many people are looking for it (including me). Hope you can share with us where you got the seed and I want to plant some too.
-> Joyce, wish that you can find it in Singapore.
Recently I plant a few green lady finger. When it readh about 10mm, then I cut it. But it already too hard, woody already, cannot eat! The next time I cut when it is about 5 & 6mm only, it is soft and can be eated. Usually, when we should harvest the lady finger?
-> Yen, I think harvest depending on its size might not be the best way. There are many factors such as the species of the lady finger, soil condition, water etc. that affect its size.
Sometimes it gets old and woody even if its size is still small especially if the soil is not fertilized.
Sometimes, it can grow very big, but it is still not ripen yet.
I have planted lady finger quite a long time ago, but I don’t have much experience with it.
Hi, I love ladies finger thus I plant myself. The seed were given by my friend. It is red in colour. Fantastic! I harvested it after a month. You may surprise the one I harvested was 10cm long. So far the longest one is reach up to 14cm, don’t know whether it can grow any more. Let’s see. But the one 1 harvest was really taste good.
1 thing I surprised was when the red ladies finger met heat it turn to green. I wonder this ladies finger is rich in lycopene. Which is good for heart.
For Wuhan friend. Ladies finger is originally from Africa and it is now become commercial food. You can get it everywhere.
-> Erjin, thank you for your information. I am still searching for the seed of red ladies finger. The green one is very common here, but not the red one.
May be the weather here is too hot and all of them turn green?
We have I think a thousands of Lady Finger in our Garden,..different okra, different designs,,but they have the same taste,..>!
Wow, a thousand of Lady Fingers, you must have a wide space in your garden.
wow… thousands of Okra! lovely…..I would dream to have it.
I’m staying in KL, Malaysia. I think the weather should be the same haha.
-> Erjin, lady Finger / Okra is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world. Planting it in KL should not be a problem.
hi
i have seen red lady fingers in singapore
the colour is bright red and very pretty
presently am trying to grow the plant
hoping to see the result soon :p
-> linda, I wish you have a good outcome of your planting.
Was searching for ways to cook lady fingers and stumbled on your site. I didnt know there is red colored lady finger. Probably I should scout for it and try to cook it in coming days
Ivy, thanks for visiting. Do tell us about your cooking experience on lady fingers.
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