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Home » From Scratch » Easy Southern Fried Okra

Easy Southern Fried Okra

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July 10, 2019 by Victoria 9 Comments

This easy recipe for fried okra is made without buttermilk, and without cornmeal. Fried in coconut oil, it's a healthy option for this classic Southern recipe! Learn how to make the best fried okra today!

Crispy fried okra on plate

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In the South, fried okra is a standard side dish for most meals. Especially in the summer when the okra is growing like crazy! This recipe has been passed down in my family for four generations.

You can make this fried okra fresh, or you can bread and freeze it for later. Have fried okra any time you want!

The Best Easy Southern Fried Okra

Growing up in Texas, fried okra was an absolute staple in every home and every restaurant we ever visited during my childhood.

My mom would make fried okra from scratch to go alongside chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes. Mmmm, the good ol' days.

When my grandfather moved in with us 30 years ago and started a garden, he grew so much okra we could barely pick it fast enough!

And of course, when we started our own garden 4 years ago, I knew that okra was going to be one of the first things we would plant.

While we eat a ton of it fresh, we also freeze it by the gallon for enjoying later in the year! Here are the steps for making the perfect crispy, Southern fried okra!

Step One:

Rinse and chop all the okra. You can leave the ends, but not the tops where they were connected to the plant.

Large okra is not usually a problem, but if you cut into the okra and it sounds like you are cutting celery, toss it. That okra will be too tough to enjoy.

Fresh okra on cutting board

You want a nice soft sound when cutting. Many large okra are still fine, so don't toss them out just due to size. Try cutting them and toss based on sound.

Step Two:

Beat 1 egg and place 2 cups of flour in separate bowls. You'll also have your cut okra in a separate bowl.

Fried okra ingredients in separate bowls

Take your cut okra and pour the egg over the pieces. Mix well until all the okra is coated in the beaten egg.

Next, gently remove coated okra from the bowl (avoiding excess egg mix) and place a few handfuls a time into the flour bowl.

Mix the okra around until each piece is thoroughly coated and you can no longer see the green of the okra.

breaded okra before frying

Step Three:

In a heavy bottom pan, heat whatever oil you like to fry with to 350°. We like to use coconut oil, but you can use whatever you like.

Separate out the breaded okra from the excess flour, careful not to fry straight flour! Drop a handful or two of breaded okra into the oil and fry until golden brown.

Remove okra from oil and drain on a paper towel covered plan or tray.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Fried okra draining on a paper towel

How to Freeze Fried Okra

If you're like us and you have WAY too much okra to eat fresh, you can also freeze it for later!

Just stop after step two, after breading and before frying, and place the okra on a wax paper lined baking sheet.

Place the tray in the freezer for at least 4 hours. Then transfer okra to a gallon freezer bag and store until needed.

To fry frozen okra: place frozen okra directly in hot oil and fry until golden brown. Season to taste and enjoy!

fried okra finished on plate

The Best Southern Fried Okra

This easy recipe for fried okra is made without buttermilk, and without cornmeal. Fried in coconut oil, it's a healthier option for this classic Southern recipe! Learn how to make the best fried okra today!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Fried Okra, Fried Okra Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs fresh okra
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 cups flour (we use einkorn)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 cups oil for frying (we use coconut oil)

Instructions

  • Cut okra and discard the tops, place cut okra in medium bowl.
  • Beat egg in a small bowl, then pour over cut okra. Mix well, until all pieces are coated in egg.
  • Remove okra from bowl and place 2 handfuls at a time in the flour mixture. Mix well to coat each piece completely in flour.
  • Heat oil in a heavy bottom pain to 350°. Remove okra from flour bowl and drop into hot oil. Fry until golden brown.
  • Drain fried okra on a paper towel lined plate or tray. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Tried this recipe?Mention @AModHomestead or tag ##amodernhomestead!

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Crispy fried okra recipe

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Filed Under: All Posts, Einkorn Flour, Featured Recipes, From Scratch Tagged With: Cooking, Einkorn, From scratch, Homestead Pantry, Side Dish

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Norma says

    July 17, 2019 at 8:12 am

    Oh, Victoria! You are bringing back some memories. Anyone who gardens in Texas longs to have an overabundance of okra to put up and to foist off on all their friends! haha

    Fried okra, chicken fried steak, and mashed potatoes! Yum! I remember as a girl eating this meal on Sunday when the preacher would come to eat. Some special memories.

    Thanks for reminding me…

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      July 17, 2019 at 5:22 pm

      You’re so welcome Norma! We have so much okra right now, it’s crazy. With just 6 plants, we are still harvesting 1-2 gallons A DAY! Ha! Glad I could bring back some sweet memories <3

      Reply
  2. Faith Adams says

    July 26, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Surprised that there is no cornmeal!
    Will try this soon!

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      July 26, 2019 at 8:53 pm

      Yep! Just the way mama makes it! We stopped using cornmeal in about 1998 when we found out I was allergic to corn. I actually MUCH prefer this recipe! <3

      Reply
  3. Ashley W says

    August 6, 2020 at 2:13 pm

    How long do you blanch the okra?

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      August 6, 2020 at 2:27 pm

      Hey Ashley! No blanching in this recipe :-)

      So you just wash, cut, coat, and fry! Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Ashley W says

        August 6, 2020 at 3:21 pm

        Awesome thank you so much!! :-)

        Reply
      • Ashley W says

        August 6, 2020 at 3:32 pm

        How long will the breaded okra last in the freezer before I have to cook and eat it?

        Reply
        • Victoria says

          August 6, 2020 at 3:35 pm

          You’re welcome!

          we just ate the last bag of breaded okra from 2 years ago (found it when I cleaned out the freezer) and it was slightly freezer burned, but tasted perfect otherwise!

          Reply
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Hi there! I’m Victoria – a work at home mom to an active 4 year old, homesteader, from scratch chef, and full time blogger!
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