Description
Quick Pickled Okra recipe, easy to prepare and perfect for snacking, garnishing, or sandwich enhancement.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) okra, young and tender pods
- 5 tablespoons (75g) kosher salt, divided
- 2 cups (480ml) water
- 2 cups (480ml) distilled white vinegar
- 5 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 tablespoon (15g) honey
- 2 bay leaves
- 11/2 teaspoon (1g) dried dill
- 11/2 teaspoon (2g) brown mustard seeds
- 1–2 spicy chilies, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Okra: Start by rinsing the okra thoroughly under cool water. Ensure you choose young, tender pods to avoid unwanted slime.
- Slice and Salt: Slice each okra pod into about half-inch pieces and sprinkle with 4 tablespoons of kosher salt. Allow the okra to sit for 30 minutes to draw out moisture and reduce slime.
- Make the Brine: In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, vinegar, water, honey (or sugar), and spices. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer until the sugar dissolves, ensuring it does not boil too much.
- Packing the Jars: Once the brine is ready, pack the salted okra firmly into clean jars, adding smashed garlic and bay leaves for extra flavor between layers. Leave some space at the top of the jars.
- Pour the Brine: Carefully pour the hot brine over the packed okra until submerged completely, ensuring no air pockets remain.
- Seal and Cool: Seal the jars tightly, letting them cool to room temperature. You should hear popping sounds as the jars seal, indicating a vacuum is forming.
- Refrigerate and Wait: Place the sealed jars into the refrigerator and let them sit for at least one hour before trying. For the best flavor, wait about a week before consuming.
Notes
- Pickled okra will last 2-3 months in the refrigerator.
- Using young and tender okra pods ensures the best texture.
- If the okra becomes too salty, rinse it thoroughly before packing into jars to reduce the saltiness.
- If the pickling brine tastes too strong, add extra water or vinegar according to your taste preference.
- Not applicable as this recipe serves as a cold pickled snack.
- Serve as a crunchy snack straight from the jar.
- Use as a garnish for martinis or bloody marys.
- Add to sandwiches for a zesty flavor boost.
- Add turmeric for color and added health benefits.
- Experiment with different pickling spices for unique flavors.
- Incorporate other vegetables like carrots or bell peppers to the pickling process.
- For better texture, choose fresh okra pods rather than frozen.
- If you cannot find garlic, other spices can be substituted for additional flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: varies
- Calories: 46
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 4370mg
- Fat: 0.3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.03g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g