Description
Southern Fried Okra is a classic Southern comfort food featuring crispy, golden-brown pieces of okra coated in a seasoned cornmeal and flour mixture, then deep-fried to perfection. This easy-to-make side dish or snack delivers a crunchy exterior with tender okra inside, perfect for pairing with your favorite meals or enjoying on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh or frozen okra, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1/8 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp seasoning salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal (yellow or white)
- 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Prepare the Okra: Drizzle the buttermilk over the cut okra pieces in a large bowl, ensuring they are well coated.
- Season the Okra: Sprinkle the seasoning salt and ground black pepper over the okra. Use your hands to mix thoroughly, making sure the seasoning is evenly distributed.
- Coat with Flour: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the okra and mix again with your hands to coat each piece evenly.
- Add Cornmeal: Add the cornmeal to the okra mixture and gently toss to combine. Break up any clumps so the okra pieces don’t stick together.
- Heat the Oil: In a deep fryer or deep skillet, heat the vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C) to ensure proper frying temperature.
- Fry the Okra: Carefully drop the okra pieces into the hot oil in batches, avoiding overcrowding. Fry for approximately 3 minutes or until the okra turns a golden brown color.
- Drain Excess Oil: Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried okra and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
- Season and Serve: While still warm, add salt to taste if desired. Allow to cool slightly and serve immediately for best crispiness and flavor.
Notes
- This recipe uses fresh or frozen okra; if using frozen, fully thaw and pat dry before coating for best results.
- Vegetable oil is ideal for frying due to its high smoke point, but canola or peanut oil also works well.
- To make it spicier, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Serve Southern Fried Okra as a side dish with barbecue, fried chicken, or enjoy as a crispy snack.
- Leftovers can be reheated in an air fryer or oven to retain crispiness but are best enjoyed fresh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
