Okay, I wish I could say I’m that clever, but alas this is just my take on one of my favourite pickles by Rick’s Picks, a local pickle artisan with pithy pickles like Phat Beets and Wasabeans. I love all their preserved produce, but at 13 bucks a pop, it’s a splurge I can’t indulge as often as I’d like to (especially considering I’m prone to eating an entire jar in 1 sitting if someone doesn’t take them away from me).
They have a tangy bite with a smoky spice that’s mellowed out by the slick crunchy texture of the okra. I can’t think of anything better to pair with BBQ’ed and smoked meats, or even a hamburger. But personally I could just go on eating them out of the jar until there are none left.
The other day I saw some svelte young okra lying in wait at the farmers market and I just couldn’t help but cop a feel. They were covered in soft blonde fuzz and radiated a particularly enticing shade of green without a scar or bruise in sight. I quickly scooped up a few handfuls knowing exactly what I’d be doing with them when I got home…
Ingredients
- 24 okra small
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika smoked (pimenton)
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed whole
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper corns whole
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more if you like it hot)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 clove garlic of smashed
Steps
- Wash the okra and use a vegetable peeler to peel the prickly bits off the tops of the okra. Pack them into a glass jar standing up.
- In a small non-reactive saucepan, bring the rest of the ingredients to a boil for a minute or until the salt is completely dissolved. Pour this mixture into the jar and add enough water to cover the tops of the okra (they'll float so you'll need to weigh them down with something). Secure the lid and allow the jar to come to room temperature.
- Keep the jar in the fridge for about a week, then enjoy.
‘Cop a feel’ – hehe. Thanks for the giggle. Love the recipe too!
“The other day I saw some svelte young okra lying in wait at the farmers market and I just couldn’t help but cop a feel.”
Teehee. =D
From the looks of it, you and the young okra are making sweet pickles together. Smokin’ is right! 😉
‘Cop a feel’ – hehe. Thanks for the giggle. Love the recipe too!
Ooh this sounds good, I love pickled stuff…nice one on innovating your own version of the expensive stuff! 🙂
“The other day I saw some svelte young okra lying in wait at the farmers market and I just couldn’t help but cop a feel.”
Teehee. =D
From the looks of it, you and the young okra are making sweet pickles together. Smokin’ is right! 😉
Ooh this sounds good, I love pickled stuff…nice one on innovating your own version of the expensive stuff! 🙂
Hah! That is quite clever! Okra doesn’t make very frequent appearances on food blogs, this is kinda new and freaky for me, heh 🙂 But the combination of flavors does sound really good!
Svelte young okra turned into smokra…news at eleven. Sorry I couln’t resist.
Hah! That is quite clever! Okra doesn’t make very frequent appearances on food blogs, this is kinda new and freaky for me, heh 🙂 But the combination of flavors does sound really good!
Svelte young okra turned into smokra…news at eleven. Sorry I couln’t resist.
That looks seriously delicious! I recently discovered smoked paprika and have been using it all over the place. Spicy pickled okra is a favorite around here — I have a feeling ‘Smokra’ could rival it though!
That looks seriously delicious! I recently discovered smoked paprika and have been using it all over the place. Spicy pickled okra is a favorite around here — I have a feeling ‘Smokra’ could rival it though!
Ha! Just today I pickled some of my Purple Queen green beans (covered with the same velvety lunago), for the same reason – I love pickles so much, but the nice ones are spendy and too good to put down. Mine have exactly everything yours have except the pimenton, which I guess is the whole point (but I do like that idea and might pinch it).
Ha! Just today I pickled some of my Purple Queen green beans (covered with the same velvety lunago), for the same reason – I love pickles so much, but the nice ones are spendy and too good to put down. Mine have exactly everything yours have except the pimenton, which I guess is the whole point (but I do like that idea and might pinch it).
Oh my gosh, I LOVE Rick’s Picks’ Smokra, but like you I consider it a bit of a splurge. Now I can’t wait to make my own!!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE Rick’s Picks’ Smokra, but like you I consider it a bit of a splurge. Now I can’t wait to make my own!!
I am so glad that you don’t have that northern Fear of Okra that has made such a tragedy of its subtle ways north of the Mason-Dixon line. This recipe looks phenomenal.
Also: 13 bucks for a jar of pickles?
I am so glad that you don’t have that northern Fear of Okra that has made such a tragedy of its subtle ways north of the Mason-Dixon line. This recipe looks phenomenal.
Also: 13 bucks for a jar of pickles?
You have a way with words as well as food.
Is it not more P.C to use the plumper, more matronly okra? (with coarser hair, jutting ribs and a bit of a scent? – not as aesthetically appealing, but what personality!)
Discrimination and all that.
Hilarious stuff – AND great food!
You have a way with words as well as food.
Is it not more P.C to use the plumper, more matronly okra? (with coarser hair, jutting ribs and a bit of a scent? – not as aesthetically appealing, but what personality!)
Discrimination and all that.
Hilarious stuff – AND great food!
Just put up a batch of okra using this recipe. How am I supposed to wait a *whole week* before nibbling on these guys? The brine smelled utterly divine – so smoky and delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Just put up a batch of okra using this recipe. How am I supposed to wait a *whole week* before nibbling on these guys? The brine smelled utterly divine – so smoky and delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
I am so excited to try this because I love smokra. Does this turn out like Ricks Smokra? Before I make mine, I would like to know if anyone would tweek this recipe? Please reply.
I actually modeled it off Rick’s smokra, it comes pretty close. I alwaysbottle a ton of okra every summer so I have a supply of them for the rest ofthe year.
sweet!!! thanks for the reply. So when you are putting away for later in the year are you processing in a canner or pressure cooker? If so, how long are you processing for? I am thinking maybe 10 minutes in a canner, but I wonder if that will make them soggy. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
Actually I’m to lazy to bother with canning, so I just store it in a largetupperware in the fridge. It has enough salt and vinegar in it to last ayear if it’s refrigerated.
I actually modeled it off Rick's smokra, it comes pretty close. I alwaysbottle a ton of okra every summer so I have a supply of them for the rest ofthe year.
Actually I'm to lazy to bother with canning, so I just store it in a largetupperware in the fridge. It has enough salt and vinegar in it to last ayear if it's refrigerated.
I tried this recipe recently with okra from my garden because I too have had Rick’s Smokra and its really good. But they came out very, very, slimy. I usually pick them when they are small, because I know that they get slimier when they are bigger. I don’t usually have enough in one day so I put them in the fidge until I have enough to cook. Were they too old? What could have made them so slimy? Anyways, they taste great, just likes Rick’s , after I wash off the slime. I am going to try again. Just… Read more »
Hi Bob, I actually don’t mind the sliminess, so I never really thought about it. I did go in the fridge and check out two different batches I have in there and neither of them were very slimy. It could have to do with the amount of time they sit in the brine. Have you tried leaving them in there for longer (a month maybe?). I know the slime dissipates if you cook it for a long time, so I’m wondering if the same holds true for pickling. The other thing is that the slime comes from cut surfaces, so… Read more »
Hey Marc, just stumbling upon you Kimchi recipe and my mouth is watering. I’ve just started pickling things at home myself and I’m so surprised at the difference in quality and taste. I will be definitely trying this.
Hey Marc, just stumbling upon you Kimchi recipe and my mouth is watering. I’ve just started pickling things at home myself and I’m so surprised at the difference in quality and taste. I will be definitely trying this.
Marc, I followed the recipe but then processed the jars for 10 min in boiling canning bath, which I assume means I can keep them for months at room temperature before opening?
Sorry, but I’m not very familiar with canning. If that’s the method you use to preserve other things it would hold to reason that it should work for this too.
Do you use dulce or picante smoked paprika? Thanks!
It’s a matter of personal preference. I used dulce.
Thanks. Do you think Ricks uses the Dulce?
Honestly, I’m not sure, I wrote this post when I was living in NYC 4 years ago and it’s been about that long since I’ve tasted Rick’s smokra.