Southern Fried Okra
This Southern fried okra recipe is made with fresh okra coated in buttermilk and seasoned cornmeal breading and deep-fried until crispy and golden brown. Fried okra is a classic Southern side dish that I look forward to every summer and it's super easy to make!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 122kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh okra rinsed and patted dry with paper towels
- ¼ cup buttermilk whole or lowfat
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce such as Louisiana or Frank's RedHot
- ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Prepare the okra for frying by slicing them into about ¾ inch pieces. Discard the stems and skinny tips.
- Heat 3 inches of oil in a 5 to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F. Once the oil reaches 375°F, lower the heat to medium to maintain the oil temperature.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, and hot sauce in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, and seasonings in a separate medium mixing bowl.
- Working in small batches, coat the okra in the buttermilk mixture and use a slotted spoon to scoop up the okra and allow the excess buttermilk to drain. Transfer the okra to the cornmeal mixture and use your hands to completely coat the okra in the breading.
- Shake off excess breading and carefully drop the okra into the hot oil with a large spoon. Fry the okra for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the okra to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Repeat this process with the remainder of the okra until all the okra has been fried. Serve fried okra immediately with ketchup or remoulade for dipping!
Notes
- You can also use frozen okra if you do not have fresh okra. If buying pre-cut okra, about 12 ounces should be perfect.
- Leftover fried okra can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. However, fried okra tastes best when served fresh and I wouldn't recommend reheating it.
- If you must reheat fried okra, do so in an air fryer or toaster oven so that it crisps back up.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.5g | Protein: 4.6g | Fat: 1.6g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 441mg | Potassium: 316mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg