Okra, also known as ladies fingers, releases mucilage upon cooking, giving the dish gumbo its thickened texture as well as its name. Unless it is required for thickening a soup or a stew, this slimy texture is less than desirable, so okra benefits from being cooked quickly. The intense heat of the grill is ideal, as the resulting okra is gently charred and verdant. Its relatively mild flavour makes it an ideal vehicle to carry the smoky flavour of the embers and the slight bitter quality of the inner seeds is sweetened by the caramelised chilli, garlic and ginger.