Spicy Candied Pickled Okra Food

SPICY PICKLED OKRA

Steps:

• Wash the okra, rubbing lightly to remove any grit and fuzz. Sterilize 2 (1 quart ) canning jars and lids in boiling water for at least 10 minutes, allow to cool before filling with okra.
• Combine the cider vinegar, water, garlic, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, salt, and peppercorns to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Reduce the temperature and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Pack fresh, cleaned okra loosely into the jars. Pour the hot brine over the okra, filling the jars to the top. Seal jars, making sure you have cleaned the jar's rims of any residue. Store the jars in the refrigerator. Allow contents to pickle at least one week minimum before eating, two weeks is best.

SOUTHERN PICKLED OKRA

Steps:

• Wash jars in warm soapy water. Rinse well.
• Place jars in canning pot and cover with water.
• Bring pot to boil and let jars boil for 15 minutes to sterilize.
• Place jar lids and bands in water on lowest heat setting on your stove top. Do not overheat or boil.
• Wash the okra and the peppers under cool running water.
• Trim the stems from the ends of the okra.
• Peel the garlic.
• Trim the peppers to size to fit into the jars.
• Prepare the brine by placing water in a medium sauce pot.
• Add the vinegar.
• Add the dill seed.
• Add the peppers.
• Add the garlic.
• Bring to a boil on stove top and let boil for one minute. Remove from heat.
• Remove sterilized jars from canning pot.
• Place one pod of pepper in each jar.
• Place one clove of garlic in each jar.
• Place 1/2 teaspoon of sugar in each jar.
• Pack each jar tight with pods of okra. Trim okra if needed.
• Fill the jars with brine leaving 1/2 inch of headspace in each jar.
• Check jars for proper amount of headspace.
• Wipe tops of jars with a damp paper towel or cloth.
• Center one lid on top of jar.
• Add the band. Tighten "finger tight" only.
• Place filled jars in rack in canning pot.
• Lower the rack and jars into the water. Be sure you have one inch of water covering tops of jars.
• Bring filled canning pot to a rolling boil. Start timing the water bath process.
• Cover the pot with a lid and let boil for proper amount of time.
• Raise the rack of jars back up out of the water. Hook handles to top of canning pot.
• Let jars sit for 5 minutes.
• Remove jars from rack and place on folded towels on countertop in a draft free location.
• Do not move or disturb the jars for 24 hours.
• After 24 hours, press the center of each jar to be sure it is properly sealed.
• Store jars, in a single layer, in a cool and dry place for up to one year.
• Enjoy!

SPICY PICKLED OKRA AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of well-salted water to a boil. Have an ice bath ready.
• Boil the green beans until just crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add the okra and cook for 30 seconds. Drain in a colander and immediately transfer to the ice bath to cool. Drain the vegetables and pack them into the Mason jar along with the dill and garlic.
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the coriander seeds; toast until fragrant and a shade darker, about 2 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, cayenne, smoked paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Pour the brine over the vegetables. Add a little water to the jar to cover the vegetables if necessary. Cool to room temperature, then cover the jar and refrigerate for at least 6 hours and up to 3 weeks.

SPICY PICKLED OKRA

Steps:

• Wash the okra and trim the stems to 1/2 inch. Place 1 chile, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed, 1/4 teaspoon peppercorns, and 2 cloves of garlic in the bottom of each of 4 sterilized pint-sized canning jars (see page 279). Divide the okra evenly among the jars, placing the pods vertically, alternating stems up and down.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the vinegar, water, and salt to a boil. Carefully pour the boiling mixture over the okra in the jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headroom between the top of the liquid and the lid. Seal the lids.
• Process the jars in a boiling-water canner for 15 minutes (see page 279). Store the unopened jars at room temperature for up to 1 year. Once the jars are opened, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• variation
• For refrigerator pickles, skip the boiling-water canner and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
• pickling salt
• Pickling salt is fine-grained, highly pure, and free of additives, including iodine and anticaking agents that cause the pickles to turn dark and the pickling liquid to turn cloudy. Although sea salt does not contain additives, it does contain various minerals and elements that can cloud the mixture. Also, flaked salts vary in density and are not recommended for pickling. Pickling salt is labeled as such, and it's available in many grocery stores and online.

SWEET DILL PICKLED OKRA

Steps:

• Pack washed okra in 6 pint jars.
• Divide garlic, celery seed, hot pepper and dill seed between the jars.
• Combine salt, sugar, water and vinegar in large saucepan; bring to boiling and pour into jars to within 1/2 inch of top.
• Seal jars and place in hot water bath (water to cover jars) for 7 minutes.
• Remove to wire rack to cool.

OLD FASHIONED PICKLED OKRA

Steps:

• Boil 10 pint canning jars for 15 minutes. Leave in hot water until ready for use.
• Wash okra with a vegetable brush. Leave short stem. If you prick each pod several times with a needle or fine-pointed knife, pickling solution will enter pod more quickly. This may help prevent floating.
• Put pods in hot jars with stems alternating up and down for a better pack. Place one pepper and one clove of garlic in each jar. Add 1 teaspoon dill seed, if desired. Heat vinegar, salt and water to boiling. Pour into each jar, covering okra.
• Remove air bubbles, wipe sealing edge and close with new jar lids following manufacturer's directions.
• Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes at a simmering temperature (180 degrees). Immediately remove from water, cool. Store for a month before using to develop flavor.