Fried Okra
Fried okra is a delicious and popular dish in Southern cuisine that features fresh okra slices coated in a crispy, golden-brown cornmeal batter. This beloved comfort food can be enjoyed as a side dish or even as a snack. In this article, we'll explore the history, nutritional value, and preparation methods of fried okra. And it's easy to make!
Ingredients
- 1-2 lbs. fresh okra
- 1 cup corn meal
- ¼ cup flour
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup buttermilk (optional)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup canola oil
Instructions
- Wash okra and pat dry, then slice into 1/2-inch pieces, discarding the tops.
- Mix together cornmeal, flour, salt, and pepper.
- Optional: Dip okra in buttermilk then place in strainer before dredging in cornmeal mixture. (This is if you want a thicker batter.)
- Dredge okra in cornmeal and shake off excess.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter and about 4 tablespoons oil in skillet on medium-high. When the oil is hot, add some of the okra and cook on one side until nicely browned, then flip to the other side. Don’t crowd the pan!
- Turn the heat down a little and continue cooking and stirring around a little until okra is nicely browned on all sides. Watch it because it will brown quickly!
- Repeat until all the okra is fried. Add oil and butter as needed.
- Remove from skillet with slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain.