French Fried Okra Recipes

FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, soak okra in egg for 5 to 10 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, salt, and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge okra in the cornmeal mixture, coating evenly. Carefully place okra in hot oil; stir continuously. Reduce heat to medium when okra first starts to brown, and cook until golden. Drain on paper towels.

FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Cut the okra into 1/2-inch rounds. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Place the flour, salt and pepper in a plastic bag large enough to hold the okra. Dip the okra in the eggs, then drop into the bag. Shake well, making sure that just enough flour adheres to cover and that the okra pieces do not stick together.
• Pour enough oil into a deep saucepan to come up to approximately 3 inches in the pan. Heat the oil but watch that it doesn't get too hot. Lower heat. Add okra one handful at a time. Fry, watching carefully, for 3 to 5 minutes until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

FRENCH-FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Wash okra well & drain.
• Cut off tips & stem ends & cut into 1/2-inch slices.
• Combine eggs & milk & mix well.
• Dip okra into egg-milk mixture, then dredge in corn meal & fry in hot oil (about 375F) until golden & crisp.
• Drain on paper towels & sprinkle with salr.

FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Wash the okra and trim the stem ends. Slice each pod crosswise into 1/2-inch rounds. Place the flour, egg, and cornmeal in separate shallow bowls. Coat the rounds with flour, then drop them into the beaten egg. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the okra rounds to the bowl with the cornmeal and toss to coat.
• In a deep-fryer or large cast-iron Dutch oven, heat the oil to 350°F. Lift the okra out of the cornmeal, again using a slotted spoon, and shake off the excess cornmeal. Carefully drop the okra into the oil piece by piece so it doesn't stick together while cooking. Don't overcrowd the pan; you will need to cook 2 or 3 batches. Cook until light brown, about 15 minutes. Remove the cooked okra with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt.

PAN-FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Wash the okra, and place aside, leaving the okra slightly wet. Cut the okra crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces and place in a large bowl. Season the okra with the salt, adding more to taste.
• Pour the cornmeal over the okra. Using both hands, firmly grip the bowl, and shake it until all the okra pieces are coated. If too dry, add a little water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and, if needed, more cornmeal can be added. Lightly press the okra with your hands, making sure that the cornmeal sticks to the okra. Toss the okra again. All the pieces should be coated evenly, with a light layer of cornmeal - but the okra shouldn't be obscured.
• In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. You can determine if the oil is ready by dropping a pinch of cornmeal into it; the oil should sizzle, but not smoke. (If it's not hot enough, the okra will soak up the oil.)
• Once the oil is ready, working in two batches to avoid crowding, drop half the okra into the hot oil and cook it, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until golden and crisp. Using a slotted spoon or spider, remove the okra to a plate covered with a paper towel to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining okra, and serve immediately.

FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Drizzle buttermilk over cut okra.
• Place dry pancake mix in a batter bowl and shake until coated well.
• Fry about 1 tablespoon at the time and fry until golden brown.
• Salt to taste.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Melt shortening in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat until a frying thermometer registers 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile, whisk together eggs and milk in a bowl. Place flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper in another bowl; whisk to combine.
• Place 8 pieces of okra in egg mixture to coat, then dredge in flour mixture. Fry until golden brown, turning as necessary, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat coating and frying okra; serve warm.

MEME'S FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Line a plate with paper towels and set by the cooktop. Combine the okra and buttermilk in a bowl. Combine the cornmeal and flour in a second bowl. Using a slotted spoon, remove the okra from the liquid, letting the excess buttermilk run back into the bowl. Place the okra in the flour mixture and toss to coat.
• Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F on deep-fat thermometer. (You can also test the heat by sprinkling a bit of flour into the hot oil to see whether it bubbles.) When the oil is hot, add a large spoonful of okra to the skillet. (Don't add too much at once or the oil will cool down and the okra won't cook properly.)
• Cook until brown and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked okra to the prepared plate. Repeat with the remaining okra. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
• Frying can be messy, but not if you are prepared. Set up a frying center in the kitchen (chefs call it a station) that lets you easily move from marinating the fish to the dry ingredients to the hot oil. Line a plate or baking sheet with paper towels and place it by the pot to receive the fried fish, a clean and efficient system. Only dredge what you can fry at a time: don't coat all the fish and then start frying; the coating will become dense and gummy.