Authentic Southern Fried Okra

Submitted by 1 Fat Chef

"Traditional cornmeal coating with a trick to make it stick!"

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 1 quart fresh okra
• 2 -3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 cups yellow plain cornmeal (stoneground is best)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• lard or vegetable oil

directions

1. Wash okra and cut into 1/2 inch rounds.
2. Put in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with flour. Shake it around vigorously to coat evenly, then bounce in a wire strainer to remove all excess. Final coat should be very light!
3. Return to mixing bowl and add beaten egg. Stir to cover each piece of okra.
4. Place cornmeal in zipper bag with salt and pepper.
5. Add okra in 1 cup batches and shake until each piece is coated. Remove with something that will allow extra cornmeal to fall away. Put on a plate until all okra is coated.
6. Fry in 1/2 inch lard or oil at 400 degrees or med-high until pieces are golden brown.
7. Drain on brown paper or a wire rack.
8. Salt additionally if desired.

Reviews

[ritacatz]

Did youknow that if you dust the okra first with corn starch the breading really holds on

 

[Sugar Rushay]

I used a bag of frozen okra, rinsed it with hot water to thaw it quickly. The portions of the recipe were perfect! This made 2 cups (two batches) and was excellent. Having the cornmeal batter FINALLY stay on the okra was so nice. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

 

[texasjenny]

WOW! A Fried Okra recipe where the batter stays on! I could hardly believe it. It was so good and crispy. I used peanut oil and also added Old Bay. This is the greatest recipe ever. Can't wait to try it on squash and green tomatoes. Thank you so much!

 

[xynthee]

I made this with frozen, chopped and unbreaded okra (it's all I can get around here), and it was wonderful! Just let the okra thaw enough to get a little sticky (30 minutes to an hour), then proceed as usual. I never would have dreamed frozen, unbreaded okra could be so unbelievably good, but it is!!

 

[Markeela L.]

The perfect recipe for fried okra. I followed the directions and ingredients to the tee! My daughter said it tasted better than Cracker Barrel's fried okra. I think that's a pretty good compliment.