0 from 18 votes
Fried Okra
Savory Southern Fried Okra has a perfectly seasoned crisp cornmeal coating on the outside of each poppable bite of one of nature's most unusual vegetables. Fried in hot oil until golden brown and crispy, this Southern staple makes a great snack, appetizer, or side dish!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
18 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 260 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh okra pods or frozen okra, thawed
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat about 1 inch of oil in a large skillet to between 350 and 375°F.
- Cut off the stem end and tip of each okra pod. Slice each pod into 1/2-inch pieces. Beat the eggs and milk together in a bowl.
- Soak the okra in the egg mixture while gathering remaining ingredients.
- Combine cornmeal, flour, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper in a large resealable bag or shallow dish. Shake or stir well to combine.
- Drain the okra from the egg mixture and add to the flour and cornmeal mixture. Shake well to coat or toss to dredge the okra pieces in the mixture. Transfer to a baking sheet or plate.
- Fry the okra in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes until golden.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Buttermilk: Some people prefer to soak their okra in buttermilk instead of using eggs and milk for extra tang. If you want, you can replace the eggs and milk with 1 cup of buttermilk instead in this recipe.
- Storage: Store any leftover okra in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can reheat leftover fried okra in an air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes or in a 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes. The air fryer is my preferred method because it crisps up the exterior a bit better than the oven, but both work well.
- Freezing: You can freeze the fried okra before or after frying. Just space out the breaded pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 1 hour before transferring to an airtight container. This helps prevent the breaded okra from freezing together in a big lump. To cook, either fry in the hot oil like normal or you can use an air fryer and cook them for 12-14 minutes at 40o°F, shaking the basket partway through so they air fry evenly.
- Air Fryer Fried Okra Instructions: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F. Bread the okra like you normally would, then transfer them to the basket of your air fryer so they are in a single layer (you will definitely need to work in batches). Spray with cooking spray, then cook for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Nutrition: The nutrition info is calculated without an oil amount using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information, you might want to consult a nutitritionist.
Nutrition Information
Calories
260kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
47g
(16%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
4g
(6%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0.01g
Cholesterol
55mg
(18%)
Sodium
1193mg
(50%)
Potassium
405mg
(12%)
Fiber
7g
(28%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
688IU
(14%)
Vitamin C
17mg
(19%)
Calcium
83mg
(8%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 260
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 260kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 47g | 16% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 55mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 1193mg | 50% |
| Potassium | 405mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 688IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 17mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 83mg | 8% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.