Okra is a popular vegetable in the South and a popular choice for pickling.
Okra is a fuzzy, green vegetable popular in the southern states of America. It is also known as bamia, bindi, bhindi and lady's finger. It is actually a member of the cotton family. Okra can be steamed, stewed, fried or pickled. Pickling okra is a great way to enjoy this unique vegetable because it not only tastes delicious when pickled with the right spices but will also keep for years. There are a number of spices traditionally used to pickle okra and the ones you use depend on your spice (and heat) preferences.
Salt
Salt is an important part of pickling because it acts as a preservative. The type of salt you use depends on your preferences. Some recipes call for canning salt, which is similar to table salt except it lacks the iodine and anti-caking additives. Anti-caking additives from table salt can make your okra turn dark and the liquid cloudy. If you prefer, you can also use kosher salt or natural sea salt as these lack iodine and anti-caking additives.
Hot Peppers
If you want to make your okra spicy, you can add some hot peppers to the mix. The more you add, the spicier your okra will be. If you want it to be extra hot, add the pepper seeds. If you want to keep it cool, leave the seeds out. Milder peppers include bell peppers, Anaheim chilies and banana peppers. If you want to pump up the spice, add jalapenos, serranos or habaneros.
Mustard Seeds
Mustard greens are a popular vegetable in the South. When the mustard plant flowers, the seeds are harvested to be used as a spice. Whole mustard seeds add a nice flavor to pickled okra without adding heat. You can crush a few to add a little extra flavor if you desire.
Dill Seed
Dill seeds come from the flowers of dill plants. While you can use the leafy part of the dill plant for pickling, the seeds tend to be more flavorful and are preferred. The seeds are a common spice for pickled okra and are liberally used to make dill pickles, which are popular for sandwiches. The amount of dill seeds you add depends on how much you like the flavor of this spice.
Garlic
Garlic can add a great deal of flavor to pickled okra. However, if you add too much, it will add some spicy heat. There are two ways to add garlic, either by chopping it up or leaving it in whole cloves. The whole cloves will pickle along with the okra, and can be very tasty. Try chopping up some garlic and leaving some cloves whole to add a flavorful kick to your pickled okra.
Tags: pickled okra, your okra, anti-caking additives, cloves whole, flavor pickled
