Punch Up The Flavor Of Your Deviled Eggs With This Tangy Topping

You're probably familiar with the expression, "the world is your oyster," which is to say, you can achieve or make anything you'd like out of this life. But perhaps the saying should be "the world is your deviled egg," as those creamy, tangy little appetizers are bursting with flavorful possibilities. Whether fried or filled with sweet pickle relish, the only limiting factor for this dish is in your own creativity. However, sometimes it's nice to get a nudge in a delicious direction when constructing these devilish delights. And there is one topping so tangy and flavorful that you'd be remiss to not try it. Though it can be considered a bit of a niche food, especially for those not from the American South, pickled okra is definitely worth a nibble.

Okra is a fruit (yes, a fruit) that originally comes from Ethiopia. It is filled with seeds and tends to have a greasy, and somewhat slimy texture when sliced. When pickled, okra can be crisp, and has a green, tangy taste that can freshen up many dishes. Now, not all pickled okras are built equally, so make sure to pick a brand that packs the maximum amount of flavor. You can go for spicy or mild pickled okra for your deviled eggs, depending on your spice preferences. Either way, it will bring a distinctly green and earthy flavor to your deviled egg that will have people reaching for seconds.

The beauty of this deviled egg hack is in its simplicity. You can, if you please, add chopped pickled okra to your go-to deviled egg recipe. Or, you can shake your eggs up a bit by tailoring your deviled egg recipe to fit the added okra. One easy way to do this is by mixing seasonings into the creamy deviled egg filling. Spices such as cumin and paprika will add an earthy and smoky element that will perfectly complement the taste of okra. Other additions, such as fennel and coriander also work incredibly well with the crunchy, pickled fruit. You could even add curry powder to your egg filling. A nice, complex curry powder mix will perfectly complement the okra, and add an interesting twist to the picnic staple.

You can also diversify your pickled egg toppings by adding other pickled selections (cornichon pickles, pickled green tomatoes, pickled beets, pickled asparagus, and pickled onions) to top your eggs alongside your okra. You could even pickle the egg white base of your deviled egg to make it a completely tangy package. You might also want to pull some inspiration from the bar top, and incorporate your pickled okra into a bloody Mary-themed deviled egg (pickled okra being often used in the spicy, savory cocktail). Pickled okra makes the perfect topper for a deviled egg adorned with the intense flavors of Old Bay, celery salt, hot sauce, and horseradish.