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Refrigerator Pickled Okra

These deliciously simple refrigerator pickled okra ‘s are a delightful way to make interesting and tasty appetizers for the holidays without a lot of time or fuss! You will be so surprised at how EASY this recipe is and how much you actually LOVE refrigerator pickled okra!

Surprise your holiday guests with these EASY and DELICIOUS cute appetizers made from refrigerator pickled okra that you MADE YOURSELF! I mean, seriously, can you believe it!

A jar of pickled okra and two okra pods sitting on a white and blue towel with plates and toothpicks in background

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

  • ITS EASY!
  • Your guests will never believe that YOU not only put together such cute appetizers but that you ALSO made the refrigerator pickled okra yourself! BUT YOU DID! 
  • Pickled okra tastes great and is NOT slimy.
  • The tang and heat are exactly right!

I know you have LOTS of questions about pickled okra so let’s address a few of those…

CHECK OUT THIS QUICK VIDEO OF WENDI MAKING PICKLED OKRA!

 

WHAT IS REFRIGERATOR PICKLED OKRA?

Pickled okra is okra in the pod that has been preserved in a mixture of vinegar, spices and sugar.

Okra grows on a tall plant as the seed pod.

My good friends over at Plum Granny Farms in King, NC let me take photos of some of their okra plants to share with my readers. Plum Granny is an organic farm in Stokes County, NC.

A photo of a row of okra plants

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

CAN PICKLED OKRA GO BAD?

Yes, it can go bad, but it isn’t going to go bad quickly. It saves in the refrigerator about as long as pickles of any kind do.

HOW LONG CAN YOU LEAVE REFRIGERATOR PICKLED OKRA SITTING OUT?

Put your refrigerator pickled okra back in the fridge within 2 hours of getting them out of the fridge.

IS REFRIGERATOR PICKLED OKRA GOOD FOR YOU?

  • Like most foods, that totally depends on what you think is good for you. Do you want to know what ALL of the ingredients in your food are? Then, making your own pickled okra is very good for you.
  • Are you wondering if pickled okra is keto? The answer is no. If you thumb through these pictures you’ll see that I added sugar so these aren’t the pickled okra for you.
  • Looking for a low calorie snack that is crunchy and has fiber? Then pickled okra might be just exactly the thing for you!
A diagonal line of three white plates with pickled okra and other appetizers

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

WHAT DOES PICKLED OKRA GO WITH?

I’m SO GLAD you asked this question! Pickled okra MAKES AWESOME APPETIZERS!

This is just ONE of MANY okra recipes!

See my instructions below for the directions and some fun photos.

Stack of white plates with one upside down with blue speckled bottom and silverware

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

IS PICKLED OKRA OK DURING PREGNANCY?

Are you allowed to have vinegar, sugar, salt and some spices as well as okra? If so, then these refrigerator pickled okra should be ok AND they are easy to make.

If you aren’t sure, then ask your doctor.

WHERE IS PICKLED OKRA IN THE STORE?

If you plan to buy your pickled okra rather than making your own, you should be able to find it where the pickles and olives are located.

However, let me make one more plug for making your own. Okra is cheap and the supplies are cheap and its EASY to make!

This pickled okra requires NO CANNING!

YAY!

two okra pods and a stack of white plates with silver tongs

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING REFRIGERATOR PICKLED OKRA

  • Put the onions, dill and garlic in the jar BEFORE you put the okra in the jar.
  • Stuff as much okra into the jar as you can get
  • It is fine to use a different sized jar. Use whatever size jar you have.
  • If you keep your old glass spaghetti sauce jars or other jars, use those to make your refrigerator pickled okra in! Recycle and reuse!
  • If you can’t find dill, no worries, just leave it off (same for any of the other spices but DO NOT leave off the apple cider vinegar).
A stack of 4 white plates, silverware, pickle tongs and napkin

Refrigerator Pickled Okra and my beautiful new Barn Light Electric Company plates!

TO MAKE APPETIZERS USING YOUR REFRIGERATOR PICKLED OKRA:

We love to make fancy little appetizers for holiday parties with our refrigerator pickled okra! It is so easy too!

Who wouldn’t love to find a great okra recipes!

We pair the okra with:

  • Baby Gherkins
  • Blue Cheese
  • Olives
  • Manchego Cheese (or other hard cheese)
  • Anchovies
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Deli Ham

The general rule of thumb for a good toothpick pickled okra appetizer is:

  1. Only put about three things together.
  2. Try to get a hot, sweet and fat on a stick together.
  3. Avoid putting the two cheeses together.
  4. If you cut the cheese into a cube, it will hold the whole stick up on a plate for serving!
  5. Have fun when putting on the toothpick, mix and match colors and shapes!

You just have to balance out your okra recipes!

***These beautiful plates were sent to me by my friends at Barn Light Electric Company to use in a holiday appetizer post, if you would like some of these beautiful plates, please go check out Barn Light and pick up a set just like mine! ***

A plate of a pickled okra appetizer with others on a cutting board

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

HOW TO SERVE REFRIGERATOR PICKLED OKRA APPETIZERS

We serve our okra recipes with:

  • Cocktail napkins or small plates
  • With a glass of wine or beer
  • Sit the appetizers up straight on a plate so that people can come by and pick one up easily.

These little okra recipes appetizers are GREAT before a heavier meal  such as Cowboy Lasagna or All The Secrets to perfect Crockpot Pot Roast 

A cutting board of appetizers using pickled okra, cheese, pickles and red peppers

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

Let’s see how to make Refrigerator Pickled Okra

First, assemble your ingredients.

The ingredients assembled to make the pickle brine

Refrigerator Pickled Okra and Okra Recipes

Then begin heating the cider vinegar over medium heat.

Adding the apple cider vinegar to the saucepan on the stove for Refrigerator Pickled Okra

Refrigerator Pickled Okra for okra recipes

 

Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.

Adding the sugar to the saucepan of vinegar that is heating up

Refrigerator Pickled Okra for okra recipes

 

Then add the spices and salt and heat until it begins to bubble and then remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to cool and pour it over your packed jars (see the video above). Place the jar in the fridge for at least 2 days.

Adding the spices to the saucepan of heated vinegar

Refrigerator Pickled Okra for okra recipes

 

The finished product

A jar of pickled okra and two okra pods sitting on a white and blue towel with plates and toothpicks in background

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

THE RECIPE FOR REFRIGERATOR PICKLED OKRA

A jar of pickled okra and two okra pods sitting on a white and blue towel with plates and toothpicks in background

Refrigerator Pickled Okra

This recipe post gives instructions for how to make refrigerator pickled okra
4.50 from 2 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: refrigerator pickled okra, okra recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 105kcal

Ingredients

  • 15 small pods of okra (about 9 oz)
  • 1/3 Cup sweet onion thinnly sliced
  • 4 dill sprigs
  • 2 cloves garlic per jar
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp dill seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

Instructions

  • Divide the okra, sweet onion slices, dill sprigs and garlic cloves among the jars you will use. (2 pint jars).  Place the onion, dill and garlic in the bottom of the jar and then pack the okra in tightly as possible.
  • Over medium heat on the stove top in a medium sized sauce pan, heat vinegar, sugar, salt and 1/2 cup of water.  Stir and heat until the sugar and salt dissolves. 
  • Turn the heat off and add the coriander, mustard, dill seeds, peppercorns and crushed red pepper.  Turn the heat back on and bring to a boil.  Remove from the heat. 
  • Carefully pour the solution over the packed jars of okra.  
  • Tightly cover with a lid and place into the refrigerator once cooled.  Keep refrigerated for up to a week.

Notes

Wash the okra well before using and remove any bad spots with a sharp knife. 
Cut the tops of the okra so that the stem is removed but not the little cap at the top. 
Use the freshest okra possible.
If you can't find dill sprigs, it is ok to leave them out. 
It is ok to use plain white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
If using table salt, use half the amount shown. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Refrigerator Pickled Okra
Amount Per Serving
Calories 105
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A VERSE TO SHARE

It is so easy to become immersed in today’s culture, isn’t it? You try to hold yourself apart and be accountable for where you mind travels and then you suddenly find yourself swooped away in a facebook (or any other) struggle.

It’s easy to become something like the okra in this recipe. Saturated in the brine that surrounds you!

I’m trying. I know you are too.

While it isn’t easy (and what is easy that is worth our time?), I encourage you to keep your mind fresh and on things that are good and right.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as this is your true and proper worship.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is as his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




E

Thursday 19th of August 2021

A little bit too sweet for our liking but otherwise very tasty. I will make a second batch and cut sugar in half.

Wendi Spraker

Thursday 19th of August 2021

I'm glad you enjoyed the basic recipe and of course, you can adjust it to your own liking! :)

Kati mitchell

Wednesday 18th of September 2019

I have a question. I buy my pickled okra by the gallon...seems the whole fam loves them. I was told that I could reuse the juices to make more. Just add the fresh okra to the jar with the juice and replace lid. Store for a few days in the fridge...then they are done...can I do this? Will I have to boil the juices before and would it be safe?

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 18th of September 2019

Hi Kati, I don't know the content of the okra pickling liquid you purchase. I assume it is vinegar and sugar and spices. I can't imagine that any bad bugs could live in strong vinegar solution like that but don't know enough about it to give an intelligent and informed response.

Renee

Sunday 4th of August 2019

Wendy, thank you for posting this recipe and video. I've scoured the web today to find a quick and sensible recipe for refrigerator pickled okra. As I do with my "ice-box" pickles, I will omit the sugar. I enjoyed your video!

Wendi Spraker

Sunday 4th of August 2019

Hi Renee! So glad to help!

moxie

Sunday 11th of November 2018

These are so fun!!

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 14th of November 2018

I hope you give them a try!

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