Fried Okra Recipe
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Fried Okra is a Southern staple. So simple to make, it makes the perfect side dish. Get this heirloom family fried okra recipe that you’ll love.
Fried okra is one of my favorite foods in all the land – if it’s done right. This is the best fried okra recipe and a family favorite for generations!
And by done right, I mean cooked with the perfect amount of crispy coating on the outside while being smooth and tender on the inside. You’d think that would be easy enough, but when I was first married I wasn’t exactly sure how to make it. I managed to have more burnt crisps of okra because I couldn’t figure out the perfect balance of how to make it just right.
Finally, like every good Southern girl, I called my Mama. She knew just what I was doing wrong and set me straight in my fried okra making ways.
Fried Okra Recipe
I had been trying to get the perfect fried okra on the stove top alone. The secret, as Mama told me, was the combination of the stove top AND the oven! It’s how her Mama taught her and her Mama before her.
Hallelujah! It was if I could hear the angels singing when she told me how to make it.
How to Make
To make this fried okra, start by preheating oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Then, mix together the okra, corn meal, flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make sure the okra is well-coated.
In the meantime, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add okra to skillet once oil has reached the point where if a drop of water is added to the oil, it will sizzle.
Allow okra to brown on one side, which will take about 3 minutes, before gently stirring. Once both sides of okra have browned, about 3 more minutes, place into preheated oven.
Cook until fork tender, about 10 minutes. Then serve and enjoy!
We love to eat this delicious okra with so many other favorite dishes, such as Easy Mashed Potatoes, Pinto Beans and Southern Cornbread.
Since my Mama shared cooking tip with me, I’ve been making it perfectly for over 20 years.
I’m so thankful for her tips! The world just wouldn’t be the same without good fried okra.
Here’s my family’s Fried Okra recipe. It’s a tradition.
Fried Okra Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds okra, sliced
- 3/4 cup corn meal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup Canola or vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Mix together okra, corn meal, flour, and salt in a large mixing bowl, making sure well-coated.
- In the meantime, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add okra to skillet once oil has reached the point where if a drop of water is added it will sizzle.
- Allow okra to brown on one side, about 3 minutes, before gently stirring. Once both sides of okra have browned, about 3 more minutes, place into preheated oven. Cook until fork tender, about 10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I am trying this on Sunday, already got the okra, and everything else! Would like to follow you for other great fixins! Thank you
It is better fried in lard.
I usually add some finely chopped onion to mine and put in a Ziploc bag to shake & mix well. I too have used this recipe for years and prefer it to the okra fried with batter.
Do like I did my little brother when he was about six years old. I told him was fried beans as he loved beans and I thought maybe okra did not sound good to him. It became his favorite food and I always teased him that they were beans. He moved to Ohio and when he came home to visit my mother always asked him what he wanted to eat and he always said fried okra and I did the same thing when I moved to California.
I like okra. But I’ve had only breaded okra. I also have bought frozen okra(plain).
On the package it saynecessaryoil the okra for 3 minutes, that to get rid of the slime in the okra.
Is this necessary with fresh okra. I would like to try this recipe, but not if it is slimy.
Thank you.
The okra will not be slimy if it is fresh.
Coat the okra with just a little buttermilk before coating with cornmeal mixture makes this dish extra delishious!
Fried okra is my favorite! Try adding a diced potatoes to okra and cornmeal before frying. Yum!
I’ve never put orka in the oven but I coat in cornmeal add salt and pepper then fry in oil until it’s tender& a little bit burnt. So yummy.. Hey also try adding diced yellow squash mix with it..
I made your recipe last night with okra from my garden (ranging from small-tender to maybe-overgrown), and my darlin’ other half said it was the BEST he’s ever had! He loves fried okra and orders it at every restaurant that serves it, so this was quite a compliment 🙂 Thanks for sharing this easy, tasty recipe — it’s staying in my permanent collection.
I’m so glad you both enjoyed it! I do think that fresh okra cooked like that has to be one of my favorites, too!
Thank you so much for this recipe. I will eat Okra any way it is cooked, etc.
Nanagump
I tried your recipe today for Sunday lunch. Everyone loved it. No leftover. Thank you for sharing your talents.
I have roasted Okra, but never fried it. My son loves fried okra, so I will definitely try this recipe out