Aloha! 🌺 It’s Jihye in Seoul.
Today, I’m sharing a super simple recipe for a vegetable that has a bit of a controversial reputation: Okra.
Growing up in Korea, okra wasn't a common ingredient at all. In fact, I had never even tasted it until I moved to the US! But after learning about its incredible health benefits—rumor has it that even Cleopatra ate it for her beauty—I knew I had to incorporate it into my diet. If the legendary queen of beauty ate it, there must be something magical in it, right?
But then... you face the elephant in the room. It’s SLIMY!!!!!! If the gooey texture of cooked okra makes you hesitate, I have the perfect solution for you: Pickling! While pickled okra retains a tiny bit of its natural texture, the refreshing sourness and the satisfying crunch completely transform it. Plus, popping the little seeds in your mouth is incredibly fun!
🛒 Ingredients
I used to buy fresh Hawaiian okra from the local Don Quijote grocery store when I lived in Honolulu. Here is what you need for this quick 10-minute recipe (adapted with my own twist from Grandma Oma's classic):
Okra: 340g (12 oz)
Dried Thai Peppers: 2 (for a nice, spicy kick!)
Dill or Pickling Spices: 1 tsp
Water: 1 cup
Vinegar: 1/2 cup (White vinegar works best)
Salt: 1 Tbsp (Notice there is NO sugar!)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Wash the Okra (Carefully!) Please wear disposable or rubber gloves when you wash the fresh okra! They have tiny, fuzzy spines on the surface that can prick your skin. Don't worry, though—these spines become completely soft once pickled.
2. Pack the Jar Snuggly pack your clean okra into a sanitized glass jar along with the pickling spices (or dill) and the dried Thai peppers.
3. Boil the Brine In a small saucepan, combine the water, vinegar, and salt. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
4. Pour & Seal Carefully pour the boiling hot liquid over the okra until they are completely submerged. Close the lid tightly. (As you can see in my old photo, I used a jar that was a little too big, but it still worked perfectly fine!)
5. The Upside-Down Trick Before the glass jar cools down, carefully turn it upside down. This helps seal the jar. Once the bottle cools completely to room temperature (approximately two hours later), flip it back.
6. Chill and Enjoy! Store the jar in the refrigerator and wait patiently. You can start eating them the very next day!
💡 Why You'll Love This
This whole process takes only 10 to 15 minutes. What amazes me the most is that even without adding a single grain of sugar, the okra releases its own natural, subtle sweetness that balances perfectly with the vinegar.
If you’ve been wanting to try okra but were hesitating because of the texture, please try this pickling method! Let me know in the comments how you like it.
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog for more healthy, easy recipes from my kitchen. Have a wonderful day!
Mahalo! 🌺
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