Southern Fried Okra Recipe
Southern-fried okra has gained the moniker “southern popcorn” for its exquisite golden nuggets of taste.
It’s a simple breaded and fried meal that just needs a pinch of salt. After one bite of Southern-fried okra, you’ll forget you’re eating a healthful vegetable.
Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
- okra
- all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper
- egg
- milk
- vegetable oil
- Fresh lemon
(Note: Full recipe is at the bottom of the post)
How to Make Southern Fried Okra
- Trim the stem ends of the okra after washing and drying it. Then cut into 1-inch pieces widthwise.
- Preheat one inch of oil in a deep fryer or big pan to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Paper towels should be used to line a big dish.
- On a shallow plate, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
- Beat the eggs and milk together in a bowl.
- Drag each okra piece through the flour, then the egg mixture. Deep fried for 1-2 minutes in batches of a dozen pieces, or until brown.
- Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer to the prepared dish. Serve warm, topped with fresh lemon juice.
Tips and Tricks
- When purchasing okra, look for green pods with no brown or black marks. Smaller pods (less than 3 inches long) are more delicate than bigger okra.
- To make okra more soft, coat each pod equally with flour and shake off any excess.
- Okra is easily burned, so use a slotted spoon to flip the pods early in the frying process.
How to Prevent Okra from Being Slimy
One thing that some people dislike about okra is that it may be slimy. A souring agent, such as lemon juice or vinegar, is the best approach to prevent this.
Is The Slime In Okra Good For You?
Yes, the slime is beneficial to your health! It includes soluble fiber, which many of us do not get enough of, and it aids digestion.
How to Fry Paula Deen Okra
Dip the okra in buttermilk, then in a cornmeal, flour, house seasoning, and cayenne pepper mixture. Cook until the okra becomes golden brown in the heated oil. Remove from the oil, pat dry with paper towels, and serve right away.
Easy Southern Fried Okra Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1poundokra
- 1cupall-purpose flour
- Salt and pepperto taste
- 1egg
- 1/4cupmilk
- vegetable oilor equivalent
- Fresh lemon
Instructions
- Trim the stem ends of the okra after washing and drying it. Then cut into 1-inch pieces widthwise.
- Preheat one inch of oil in a deep fryer or big pan to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Paper towels should be used to line a big dish.
- On a shallow plate, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
- Beat the eggs and milk together in a bowl.
- Drag each okra piece through the flour, then the egg mixture. Deep fried for 1-2 minutes in batches of a dozen pieces, or until brown.
- Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer to the prepared dish. Serve warm, topped with fresh lemon juice.
FAQs
How do you keep breading from falling off okra?
The secret is to use regular milk rather than buttermilk, and to soak the chopped okra in a mixture of milk and egg for about 15 minutes before frying. During frying, the wet okra clings to the breading. The breading does not adhere to the dry okra.
Do you have to boil fresh okra before frying it?
Okra is a healthy vegetable that may be boiled or fried. Wash and slice your okra first, regardless of cooking technique. Okra may be boiled in moderately salted water. Cornmeal-coated okra may be fried in a frying pan.
Why do you put vinegar in okra?
“Soak it in vinegar for 30 minutes [before cooking with it], which helps to break up and dissolve the slime,” explains food scientist, food industry consultant, and author Bryan Le.
How do you’re crisp fried okra?
Reheating fried okra in the air fryer, oven, or toaster oven is the best way to reheat it. This will warm the oil and make the breading crisp again. (Reheat for roughly 15 minutes in the oven or 5 minutes in the air fryer at 325°F.)
How to fry okra without slime?
How do you cook okra so it’s not slimy? To reduce sliminess (which occurs from within the pod), keep okra pods intact while short cooking (such as stir-frying or grilling). Acidic foods such as citrus juice, vinegar, and even tomato have been shown to be beneficial.
Do you wash okra before frying?
Washing and drying
Regardless of what anybody tells you, it is essential to wash Okra to remove any dirt or chemicals that remain on the skin. But the most essential thing is to thoroughly dry it before cooking. Before cutting, wash uncut Okra under running water and wipe it dry with a cotton towel.
Why do we put soda in okra?
According to Preston, okra’s viscosity peaks at neutral to alkaline pH, which is why exposing it to acidic compounds like vinegar or tomatoes reduces its viscosity. Some African chefs, she claims, go the opposite way, thickening okra soup with baking soda (which elevates the pH to a more alkaline level).