Southern Fried Okra Recipe
Okra is my favorite vegetable ever. I love the hairy pod, the gooey slime and the soft texture. My family used to grow okra plant in our garden.
Okra Plant. Image credit: Bonnie Plants
I especially love crispy Southern fried okra. They are so crunchy, addictive and the okra has no slime! It’s such a great appetizer, I just can’t stop eating.
How to Fry Okra?
In California, Okra is in season starting in June, so I got myself some okras and made them into these crunchy nuggets. Now, how to fry okra? It’s very easy and involves a few simple steps:
- Remove the cap and bottom tip of the okra and cut the pods into small pieces.
- Add the okras to buttermilk.
- Coat the okras with a dry all-purpose flour and cornmeal batter (mixture).
- Deep fry in vegetable oil until golden brown and crispy.
- Drain the excess oil on paper towels and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Air Fryer to Fry Okra?
Yes you can and the end result tastes exactly the same. You can use air fryer to fry the okra after coating with the all-purpose flour and cornmeal mixture. Just add 1 tablespoon of oil to your air fryer before air frying.
What does okra taste like fried?
Okra has a mild flavor that many say tastes similar to eggplant, but the texture is more fibrous and tender. Additionally, the vegetable has a slime that will make it have a silky texture.
Is fried okra good for you?
It is pretty low in calories has a high fiber content. It has also been proven to help with blood sugar and cholesterol, making okra good for you.
How Many Calories Per Serving?
This fried okra recipe is only 183 calories per serving, with 35g of carbs.
What Dishes to Serve with this Recipe?
This meal is best served as an appetizer and goes well with a main dish. For a Southern style wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Crispy Fried Okra
Fried Okra - one of the best okra recipes ever featuring cut okra coated in cornmeal and flour to make crispy and crunchy okras. A summer favorite!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. (0.2 kg) okra
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 dashes ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- oil, for deep frying
Instructions
- Trim off the cap and tip of the okra and cut into small pieces.
- Combine the flour, cornmeal, salt, smoked paprika and ground black pepper in a bowl. Stir to mix well.
- Add the buttermilk to a bowl. Work in batches, dip the okra in the buttermilk, then coat the okra with the flour mixture. Make sure the okra is evenly coated.
- Heat up a sauce pan or frying pan with 2 inches of oil. Deep fry the okra (in batches) until they turn crispy and golden brown in color. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Serve hot with a dipping sauce such as a spicy Ranch dipping sauce (just add Sriracha to it).
Notes
If you don't have buttermilk, just use milk and add a squirt of lemon juice, vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size
2 peopleAmount Per Serving Calories 183Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 3mgSodium 599mgCarbohydrates 35gFiber 6gSugar 4gProtein 7g
Deanna
Can I freeze the okra without breading and still be able to bread after freezing without being slimy?
Rasa Malaysia
I am not sure. It’s best to use fresh okra.
Sondra
Yes, I buy out of season frozen bags of non-breaded, already cut up okra. I partial thaw in refrigerator day before frying.
I put okra in a large bowl to melt some remaining ice off but not completely thawed. I beat two eggs and pour over okra, stir well, then mix 1/4c flour, 1 cup yellow corn meal together and put over okra. Heat oil, put in okra single layer, cook until browned on one side then the other. Take out , drain on paper towels, then salt to taste. Comes out tasting just as good as fresh okra.
Kayleigh
What temp do you heat the oil up to?
Rasa Malaysia
350°F
anne Schlenk
I rarely have milk on hand, so I diluted some greek yogurt with water and it worked well. Also, I just used a small amount of oil to pan fry the okra. We loved the hint of spice from the paprika.
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Anne, that’s swesome, sounds yummy!
Angelica
What’s the dipping sauce you used?
Angela
Seriously? The dipping sauce is used for DIPPING the okra in after it’s been cooked! SMH!
Madison
Angela, she asked what the dipping sauce is she used in the photo- not what is dipping sauce for. No need to be rude.
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks Madison.
Jo
Exactly! How rude!
Karly
Love fried okra! This reminds me of my childhood!
Amy Wong
Will it be still crispy after a day or two after frying.
Rasa Malaysia
No.
Anne
Is there any substitute for cornmeal?
Rasa Malaysia
You can use flour and skip cornmeal but won’t be as crunchy.
Karen Anderson
I love okra! I like it added to soup but my favorite way to eat okra is fried!
Rasa Malaysia
I love okra everything, even raw. Have you tried them raw, it’s so yummy! I was pleasantly so surprised when I tried it the first time!
Angie
I love okra! Thanks for sharing. The challenge I’ve always had is to get the rest of my family to like them as I do. This fried okra recipe is perfect way to get my little ones to try and most likely enjoy okra. I hope I don’t mess it up.
Rasa Malaysia
It’s very easy to make these fried okras.