Put it in a wide pan with olive oil and bits of tomato to cut the slime. I don't like slimey okra. Once you're able to lift it off the pan and let it fall without seeing slime, you can salt and pepper it and put hot water on it.

How much depends on how much okra you have - this is grandma cooking, there are no measurements, only love. You leave it on low heat until the okra is soft and then you can the mince or chicken to the now okra stew. I don't usually pick the bits of tomato out.