Okay, so, can we talk about something kinda weird but surprisingly awesome? Okra water. Yeah, you heard me right! When I first heard about it, my brain immediately went to, like, slimy stew or something fried – definitely not a drink. I stumbled across it scrolling online, maybe down a wellness rabbit hole (you know how it goes!), and people were talking about drinking the water that okra soaked in. My first thought? “Uh, no thanks?”
But honestly, the idea stuck with me. It sounded so ridiculously simple, and folks were chatting about it helping with digestion and just feeling more hydrated. Curiosity totally got the better of me. Plus, finding fresh okra is pretty easy, especially when it’s everywhere in the markets here in Morocco during the season. So, I grabbed some, brought it home, and started experimenting. Took me a few tries – playing with how long to let it sit, slicing versus poking the pods – but I finally landed on a way to make it that’s ridiculously easy and actually… nice? It’s become this weirdly calming little ritual in my mornings, and honestly, the sheer lack of effort involved is a major win. If you’re even a tiny bit curious about a super simple, natural hydration thing, let me show you how I make my okra water. It’s way less strange than it sounds, promise!
What You Actually Need for Okra Water (It’s Not Much!)
Seriously, the shopping list for this is almost non-existent, which I LOVE. Here’s the lowdown:
- Fresh Okra: Grab about 4-6 of those green pointy guys. You want the ones that look bright green and feel firm, not sad or squishy. The younger, smaller ones seem a bit more tender, which might be nice if you’re worried about the texture. If you end up with giant ones, just use fewer, maybe 3 or 4. Fresh is definitely the way to go here if you can swing it!
- Good Water: About a cup (like, a regular drinking glass worth, maybe 240ml). I use filtered water because my tap water can taste a bit funky sometimes, and I want the clean taste. Spring water works great too. Just clean-tasting water is key!
- Optional Bits for Fun (Totally Not Required!):
- A little squeeze of lemon or lime juice (add this after it’s done soaking)
- A couple of mint leaves (throw these in while it soaks)
- A thin slice or two of fresh ginger (add this while soaking too)
- A little piece of cinnamon stick (you guessed it, add while soaking!)
Basically, good okra + good water = good okra water. The extras are just if you wanna jazz it up!
How Long Does This Okra Water Thing Take? (Spoiler: Mostly Waiting)
Okay, the best part? The actual work involved in making okra water is like, 5 minutes. MAX. Washing, a little chopping… that’s it. The real “ingredient” here is time – letting it hang out and do its thing.
- Hands-on Prep: Legit, 5 minutes. Maybe less if you’re fast!
- Chill Out Time (Steeping): Anywhere from 8 hours to a full 24 hours. Overnight is super easy.
- Total Time: Mostly just waiting time, from 8 to 24 hours.
Seriously, you spend 5 minutes prepping, pop it in the fridge, and forget about it until later. It’s less work than making tea! I usually let mine go overnight, maybe 12 hours or so? That seems to be the sweet spot for me for taste and texture with my okra water, but you do you!
My Super Simple Steps for Making Okra Water
Ready? This is gonna be quick, I promise.
Step 1: Clean Up Those Okra Pods
Give your okra a good wash under cool water. Get any dirt off. Pat them dry with a towel. Then, grab a knife and just snip off the very top part (the stem bit) and the tiny pointy tip at the bottom. Just the tough ends. Easy peasy.
Step 2: Slice ’em or Poke ’em
Okay, decision time! You need to help the water get inside the okra.
- Option 1: Slice: I usually just slice them into little rounds, maybe half an inch thick? Or you can cut them in half lengthwise. I feel like slicing gets more surface area, more goodness into the water. That’s just my theory though!
- Option 2: Pierce: If you wanna keep them whole, just poke ’em a few times all over with a fork or the tip of your knife. This works too!
Step 3: Put Okra and Water Together
Find a clean jar or even just a decent-sized container with a lid. Toss your prepped okra pieces in there. Pour your water over the top until the okra is covered. If you’re adding mint or ginger or cinnamon now’s the time! Give it a little swirl if you want.
Step 4: Fridge Time!
Put the lid on your jar/container nice and tight. Stick it in the fridge. Now, walk away! Let it hang out in there for at least 8 hours. Overnight is perfect. If you like it a bit thicker (some people do!), you can let it go for up to 24 hours. Experiment and see what you like best for your okra water.
Step 5: Strain and Pour Your Okra Water
Okay, waiting’s over! Grab your jar from the fridge. Get another clean glass or container ready. Pour the okra water through a little strainer (like a tea strainer or any fine mesh one) to catch the okra pieces. You can gently squish the okra bits in the strainer with a spoon if you want to get every last drop, but warning: this might make the water a bit thicker/slimier. Your call! Toss the used okra (compost bin loves ’em!). And boom – your okra water is ready! Add that squeeze of lemon now if you’re using it.
Want to Spice Up Your Okra Water? (Beyond the Basics)
Look, plain okra water is… subtle. If “subtle” isn’t your jam, or if the texture feels a little weird at first (it’s okay to admit it!), try these little tweaks:
- Lemon/Lime Power: A good squeeze of citrus AFTER straining seriously brightens things up. It’s my go-to addition.
- Minty Fresh: Tossing in a few mint leaves while it steeps makes it taste way more refreshing. Cucumber slices work too!
- Ginger Kick: A thin slice of ginger during steeping adds a nice little warming zing. Just fish it out before drinking.
- Fizzy Fun: Okay, try this: pour your finished okra water over ice, then top it off with some bubbly water (like San Pellegrino or just plain soda water). Kinda fancy!
- A Tiny Bit Sweet? If you absolutely need it, a tiny drop of honey or maple syrup stirred in might help. But honestly, try it plain or with citrus first.
- Smoothie Sneak: If you make smoothies, try using your okra water as the liquid base instead of regular water. You probably won’t even notice it’s in there!
Playing around makes it feel less like a “health chore” and more like finding your own perfect little hydrating drink.
How I Like to Drink My Okra Water
There’s no wrong way, but here’s how I usually do it or suggest trying it:
- Cold & Straight Up: Most often, I just pour it chilled from the fridge into a glass and drink it first thing before breakfast. Simple.
- On the Rocks: Pouring it over ice definitely makes it feel more like a proper “drink.” Feels good on hot days!
- Make it Pretty: Sometimes I’ll toss a lemon slice or a mint sprig in the glass. Why not make it look nice, right?
- Water Bottle Buddy: I’ll sometimes fill my water bottle with it to sip on through the morning instead of plain water.
- Pre-Gym Sip: It feels like a nice, gentle way to hydrate before a workout sometimes.
Find what fits your routine. If you’ll actually drink it, that’s the best way to serve okra water!
Keeping Your Okra Water Fresh
You made it, now don’t let it go weird in the fridge! Storage is super simple:
- Fridge is Your Friend: As soon as you strain it, get that okra water into something airtight – a glass jar with a lid is perfect.
- Keep it Chilly: Needs to live in the refrigerator, always.
- Drink Up: Try to finish it within 2 or 3 days. It just tastes better and fresher that way. After that, it might start to taste a bit flat or just… old.
- Freezer? Nah: I wouldn’t recommend freezing it. Thawing can do funny things to the texture. Best enjoyed fresh!
Storing it right means your homemade okra water stays tasty for a few days.
Seriously Though, Why Bother With Okra Water?
Okay, real talk. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you okra water is some miracle cure-all. But what I can tell you is why I keep making it. It’s just SO unbelievably easy. In a world obsessed with complicated health hacks, this is refreshingly simple.
For me, it’s just a nice, gentle start to the day. A way to get some hydration in before I even think about coffee. It feels… clean. And yeah, it’s a great way to use up extra okra! There’s something satisfying about taking this humble little vegetable and turning it into a quiet, hydrating ritual. It feels grounding.
It’s simple, it costs next to nothing, and it helps me get more water in. That’s pretty much it. And sometimes, simple is exactly what you need.
So, what about you? Have you ever tried okra water? Does it sound totally weird or kinda intriguing? Think you might give it a whirl? Got any tips or flavour ideas I missed? Tell me everything in the comments below! I really want to know what you think!
Recipes You May Like
Okra water
Learn to make simple okra water! A natural hydration boost recipe with tips for taste. Minimal prep, maximum ease. Try this healthy drink!
Ingredients
- About 4-6 fresh okra pods – look for the bright green ones that feel nice and firm, not squishy! Younger ones are great.
- Around 1 cup (that's like 8 oz or 240ml) of good, clean-tasting water – filtered is usually best if your tap water tastes strong.
- (Totally optional, just for fun): A wedge of lemon or lime (for squeezing later!), a few fresh mint leaves, a thin slice or two of ginger, maybe a tiny piece of cinnamon stick.
Instructions
Step 1: Clean Up Those Okra Pods
Give your okra a good wash under cool water. Get any dirt off. Pat them dry with a towel. Then, grab a knife and just snip off the very top part (the stem bit) and the tiny pointy tip at the bottom. Just the tough ends. Easy peasy.
Step 2: Slice ’em or Poke ’em
Okay, decision time! You need to help the water get inside the okra.
- Option 1: Slice: I usually just slice them into little rounds, maybe half an inch thick? Or you can cut them in half lengthwise. I feel like slicing gets more surface area, more goodness into the water. That’s just my theory though!
- Option 2: Pierce: If you wanna keep them whole, just poke ’em a few times all over with a fork or the tip of your knife. This works too!
Step 3: Put Okra and Water Together
Find a clean jar or even just a decent-sized container with a lid. Toss your prepped okra pieces in there. Pour your water over the top until the okra is covered. If you’re adding mint or ginger or cinnamon now’s the time! Give it a little swirl if you want.
Step 4: Fridge Time!
Put the lid on your jar/container nice and tight. Stick it in the fridge. Now, walk away! Let it hang out in there for at least 8 hours. Overnight is perfect. If you like it a bit thicker (some people do!), you can let it go for up to 24 hours. Experiment and see what you like best for your okra water.
Step 5: Strain and Pour Your Okra Water
Okay, waiting’s over! Grab your jar from the fridge. Get another clean glass or container ready. Pour the okra water through a little strainer (like a tea strainer or any fine mesh one) to catch the okra pieces. You can gently squish the okra bits in the strainer with a spoon if you want to get every last drop, but warning: this might make the water a bit thicker/slimier. Your call! Toss the used okra (compost bin loves ’em!). And boom – your okra water is ready! Add that squeeze of lemon now if you’re using it.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 serving.Amount Per Serving:Calories: Approximately 5-10 calories per serving
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