Ladies fingers can refer to two distinct things: a vegetable and a biscuit. The name's ambiguity stems from the visual similarity between the elongated shape of both.
1. Ladies Fingers as a Vegetable
"Ladies fingers" is a common alternative name for okra. Okra is the mucilaginous seed pods of a plant in the hollyhock family. Its long, slender, and tapered shape is the reason for its nickname. Many cultures use this name interchangeably with okra, particularly in Southern US regions. Several sources confirm this usage:
- Oxford Reference states that "Lady's fingers is an alternative English name for okra..."
- Quora explains that the name is "inspired by the appearance of the okra pod."
- Grub Americana refers to okra as the "Ladies' Fingers of the South."
- Nola.com confirms okra's alternative name as "lady fingers."
2. Ladies Fingers as a Biscuit
"Ladies fingers" also refers to a type of sweet biscuit, often called sponge fingers, Savoiardi biscuits (Italian), or boudoirs (French). These light, airy biscuits are commonly used in desserts like tiramisu. This usage is supported by several sources:
- Wikipedia describes Ladyfingers (or Naples biscuits) as "low-density sponge fingers."
- Cloudy Kitchen uses "Ladyfingers" synonymously with "Savoiardi biscuits."
- Baran Bakery describes Savoiardi biscuits as also known as Lady Fingers.
- Reddit discussion notes the distinction between the vegetable and biscuit meanings of "lady fingers".
Therefore, the answer depends on the context. The term "ladies fingers" can refer to either:
- Okra: A vegetable.
- Savoiardi Biscuits: A type of sponge biscuit.
