Okra is a staple vegetable in Africa. So when I moved to the States, I couldn’t understand why few people absolutely hated it. I couldn’t bear to see my son influenced by that, but then I learned about fried okra. This Southern fried okra recipe was a game-changer. The crispy, airy texture makes it the perfect side dish or snack. It’s simple, has no slime, and is delicious, so now my family won’t lose their love of okra. 😍 However, you can reduce okra’s slime. Here are a few tips so you no longer miss out on this delicious vegetable.

Recipe Ingredients

How to Make Southern Fried Okra

Preheat a deep-fryer to 375℉/190℃ or pour vegetable oil halfway into a large saucepan. Dry Ingredients – Mix cornmeal, flour, garlic, onion powder, cayenne, thyme, and white pepper in a large bowl. (Photos 1-2) Wet Ingredients – Mix the buttermilk and eggs. Add salt to taste, and set aside. (Photo 3) Breading – Dip the okra in the buttermilk mixture and lightly dip it into the cornmeal mixture. (Photos 4-5) Fry – Then fry the okra a few at a time until slightly brown and crispy (3-4 minutes, depending on the size). Remove okra from the fryer with a slotted spoon and drain on a cookie rack to ensure crispness. (Photo 6) Repeat with the remaining okra. Remoulade Sauce – In a medium-sized bowl, mix all the remoulade ingredients. Keep refrigerated until ready to use. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Tips and Tricks

Make-Ahead Instructions

If you want to get ahead, mix the breading ingredients and store them separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The next day, proceed with the recipe and fry them up. Or fry them up the day before and store them in a paper-towel-lined container in the fridge. Crisp them up in the oven for a fast appetizer or side dish. Frozen okra is a good time-saver, too. You can also make the remoulade sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Fried okra is great hot or cold, but I highly recommend serving it hot off the stove for that crunchy snack effect.😉 You can refrigerate fried okra for 3-5 days. To store it, put it in an airtight paper-towel-lined container. Leftover fried okra is best reheated in the oven or air fryer. But you can pop them in the microwave for a few seconds too.

What to Serve With Fried Okra

Serve this crispy, delicious Southern fried okra alongside some equally crispy and delectable fried catfish nuggets, Southern potato salad, and skillet cornbread. Simply spectacular!😋

More Delicious Okra Recipes to Try

Conclusion

Loving okra is easy now, thanks to this crunchy and delicious Southern fried okra recipe. Would you like more delicious soul food recipes? Then sign up for my newsletter! 😍

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”DnbsIpnm” upload-date=”2020-09-06T05:15:17.000Z” name=”Fried Okra” description=”Fried Okra –  simply delicious chunks of okra dredged with cornmeal and flour batter and fried until golden brown. Crunchy on the outside and airy on the inside.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in September 2017 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.

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