Description
Fried Okra is a classic Southern side dish made with tender okra coated in a seasoned cornmeal mixture and fried until golden and crispy. It’s crunchy on the outside, soft inside, and full of comfort-food charm.
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh okra, trimmed and sliced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper or paprika (optional)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Rinse okra and pat dry. Trim stems and cut into ½-inch slices.
- Soak sliced okra in buttermilk for 10–15 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, and optional spices.
- Heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Remove okra from buttermilk, letting excess drip, then dredge in cornmeal mixture until fully coated.
- Fry okra in small batches for 3–5 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Serve hot as a snack, appetizer, or side dish.
Notes
- Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature and crispiness.
- Thaw and dry frozen okra thoroughly before frying.
- For a lighter option, bake or air fry instead of deep frying.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 5mg