Summer okra salad with black vinegar sauce.
Okra is a vegetable with slimy and gooey texture. It has been widely cultivated in China. In Chinese, we call it “秋葵” literally means “autumn okra”. It used to be harvest in late summer and early autumn. But now it is available around the year.
Though lots of people hating eating even cooking okra because of the gooey feeling, we are big fans. I love to use it as a stir-frying side ingredients or make a quick summer salad. Last time when I visiting a Cantonese salad, okra salad was presented as a new dish. My whole family fell in love with the flavor. Lots of salad, in Chinese cuisine, calls for black vinegar as a base for seasonings. The sour taste of black vinegar can really make a dish appetizer as it can improve your appetizer immediately and greatly.
Using a lot of black vinegar in salad is a very typical Chinese way. It calls "老醋" dishes, which can be great for peanuts, spinach, potato shreds. Black vinegar salad is always great as summer side dishes, improving appetite.
Cook’s Note
- Adding a small pinch of salt and oil in the poaching water can help to keep the original color of the okra.
- Do not overcook okra |Vegetable can be very easily overcooked and loose the light flavor and crunchy texture.
- Stop the heating with chilled water or ice | Once the okra is well cooked, soak them in chilled water immediately to stop the heating.
Steps
Cut off the tail end of okras. Peel off the hard part around okra.
Bring a large pot of water to a boiling, sprinkle a small pinch of salt and add ¼ tsp. sesame oil. Lace okra in and blanch for 1 minutes.
Transfer out to chilled water to cool down and stop the heating process.
In a small bowl, mix all the season together. Take a small portion out and serve as a dip and spread the left sauce evenly over the okra.
Okra Salad with Black vinegar
Ingredients
- 10 okra
- a small pinch of salt
- ¼ tsp. sesame oil
Sauce
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 fresh Thai red pepper cut into small circles, optional
- 2 spring onion chopped
- 1 tbsp. light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp. black vinegar
- a small pinch of salt
- ¼ tsp. sugar
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil
Instructions
- Cut off the tail end of okras. Peel off the hard part around okra.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boiling, sprinkle a small pinch of salt and add ¼ tsp. sesame oil. Place okra in and blanch for 1 minute.
- Transfer out to chilled water to cool down and stop the heating process.
- In a small bowl, mix all the season together. Take a small portion out and serve as a dip and spread the remaining sauce evenly over the okra.
Holly
Unlike Korean cuisine, the okra must be widely used in Chinese cuisine. This salad with black vinegar sounds refreshingly good with all the aroma and texture. There are so much to learn from Chinese cuisine. Thanks for the recipe.
Elaine
Holly,
It is very popular in restaurants. We love to make salad or fry it with pork slices.
Gene
very interesting recipe. will definitely try to make this
Elaine
Happy cooking, Gene.
Michael Lagana
Very Good
Elaine
Thank you, Michael.
Loreta
I love cooking chinese foods
I want to learn more....