Low Calorie Okra Juice

If you ask me, okra juice is a hidden gem in the world of healthy drinks.

This refreshing beverage takes the humble okra and turns it into something surprisingly good. The mild, fresh taste comes through beautifully, and it’s loaded with good-for-you nutrients that your body will thank you for.

I like to keep mine simple – just okra, water, and a touch of lemon juice to brighten things up. The natural thickness of okra gives the drink a smooth consistency that’s different from your typical green juice.

It’s a great morning pick-me-up that’s both light and satisfying, perfect for those days when you want something other than your usual smoothie.

What Kind of Okra Should I Use?

For this juice recipe, you can use either fresh or frozen okra pods – both will give you good results. Fresh okra should be bright green, firm, and free from brown spots or blemishes when you buy it. The pods should be around 2-4 inches long – anything bigger might be tough and fibrous. If you’re going with frozen okra, make sure the pods aren’t stuck together in one big ice chunk, as this could mean they’ve been thawed and refrozen. Whether you choose fresh or frozen, give your okra a good rinse before using, and trim off the stem ends if you’re using fresh pods.

Options for Substitutions

This unique drink recipe can be adjusted based on what you have available:

• Okra: Fresh or frozen okra both work well here. If you can’t find okra, you could use nopales (cactus paddles) for a similar texture, though the taste will be different.
• Almond milk: Any plant-based milk works great – try oat milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. Each will bring its own subtle flavor to the drink.
• Peanuts: You can swap these with almonds, cashews, or even sunflower seeds if you have nut allergies. Just make sure they’re roasted for the best flavor.
• Gluten-free oats: Regular rolled oats work just fine if you don’t need the drink to be gluten-free. Quick oats are okay too, but avoid steel-cut oats as they won’t blend smoothly.
• Sea moss gel: This adds thickness and nutrients, but you can skip it or replace it with 1 tablespoon of chia seeds (soaked for 15 minutes in water) or 1 frozen banana for thickness.
• Sweetener: Any sweetener works here – try honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or dates. Start with a small amount and adjust to your taste.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making okra juice is dealing with the natural sliminess of okra – to minimize this, avoid over-blending the pods and instead pulse them briefly with the water first before adding other ingredients. A common error is adding all ingredients at once, which can result in a thick, hard-to-drink consistency – instead, blend in stages, starting with the okra and water, then adding the nuts and oats, and finally incorporating the remaining ingredients. To prevent a grainy texture, make sure your sea moss gel is completely smooth before adding it to the mixture, and strain the final drink through a fine-mesh sieve or nut milk bag to catch any remaining bits of okra or nuts. For the best flavor balance, add your sweetener last and taste as you go, since the natural sweetness of almond milk and vanilla can vary significantly.

What to Serve With Okra Juice?

This nutritious okra juice makes a great breakfast or mid-morning drink that pairs well with several light meal options. Try serving it alongside a slice of whole grain toast with almond butter for a filling breakfast combination. Since this drink has a smooth, creamy texture from the peanuts and sea moss, it goes nicely with crunchy foods like granola or a small handful of mixed nuts. You can also serve it with fresh fruit like bananas or berries to round out your morning meal – the natural sweetness of the fruit complements the earthy flavors in the juice.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Pour your okra juice into an airtight glass bottle or container and keep it in the refrigerator. It stays good for about 2-3 days. Give it a good shake before drinking, as some ingredients might naturally separate over time.

Prep Ahead: You can make a bigger batch and portion it into individual servings. Just remember that fresh is best with this juice, so I wouldn’t make more than you can drink within 2-3 days.

Quick Tip: If your juice starts to thicken too much in the fridge (which can happen because of the okra and sea moss), just add a splash of almond milk or water and give it a quick blend to bring it back to your preferred consistency.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	10-15 minutes
Total Time	20-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 400-450
• Protein: 10-15 g
• Fat: 18-22 g
• Carbohydrates: 55-65 g

Ingredients

• 12-14 okra pods (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups water (approx. 475ml)
• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts (about 36g)
• 1/3 cup gluten-free oats (around 27g)
• 2 cups almond milk (approx. 475ml)
• 1/4 cup sea moss gel (approximately 75g)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (about 1g)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (about 1g)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence (around 4g)
• Sweetener to taste

Step 1: Prepare and Steam the Okra

Start by adding 2 cups of water to a medium-sized saucepan.

Place a steamer basket inside the saucepan and bring the water to a boil.

Once boiling, cover the saucepan with the lid, reduce the heat to medium-low, and steam the okra for 5 minutes or until it is tender.

Reserve the water from steaming the okra for later use and allow the okra to cool down.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients in Blender

Once the okra has cooled, add it to a blender along with roasted peanuts, oats, spices, vanilla, almond milk, sea moss gel, and 1 1/2 cups of the reserved okra water.

If desired, include a sweetener of your choice to enhance the flavor.

Step 3: Blend and Adjust Taste

Blitz all the ingredients in the blender until they achieve a smooth consistency.

Perform a taste test and adjust the flavor if needed, by adding more sweetener or spices to suit your preference.

Step 4: Serve

Once the blend reaches your desired taste and texture, serve the preparation in your preferred manner.

Enjoy the flavorful and nutritious blend!