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A plate of fried okra with dipping sauce.
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Fried Okra Recipe

This breaded okra is so easy to make, and every crispy bite is so delicious. Simply bread it, deep fry, and serve!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  • 1 pound okra* caps cut off and sliced
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornmeal**
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Add the okra to the bowl and toss to coat. Set aside for 10 minutes.
    1 large egg, ¼ cup buttermilk, 1 pound okra*
    A bowl full of green okra with a wooden spoon.
  • In a Dutch oven, heat 1 inch of oil to 375°F. Line a plate with paper towels.
    Vegetable oil
  • While the oil is heating, whisk the flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper in another shallow bowl.
    ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup cornmeal**, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    A glass bowl filled with granulated sugar.
  • Remove the okra from the egg mixture using a slotted spoon or tongs, letting any excess drain off. Place it into the flour/cornmeal mixture and toss to coat. After coating, shake off any excess flour. This helps to prevent the formation of a thick, doughy crust.
    A bowl filled with a mixture of greens and cheese.
  • Fry the okra in batches until golden on all sides, about 2-3 minutes. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding can cause the oil temperature to drop, resulting in soggy okra.
    Fried okra in a slow cooker.
  • Place the okra on the paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil and maintain its crispy texture. Season with another pinch of salt.
    Roasted brussel sprouts on a baking sheet.
  • Fried okra is best served right after frying when it's still hot and crispy. If you need to keep it warm, place it in a 200°F oven.

Video

Notes

*Choose fresh okra pods that are 2-4 inches in size. They should be firm, green, and free from blemishes or mold. Avoid overripe or overly large okra, as they can be tough.
**For gluten-free fried okra, swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free 1:1 flour and the cornmeal for gluten-free cornmeal.

Nutrition

Serving: 5-6 pods | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 222mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 603IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 2mg