Southern Fried Okra (Printer-Friendly)

Crispy southern-style fried okra with a flavorful cornmeal and spice coating for a satisfying crunch.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 12 ounces fresh okra pods, sliced into ½ inch pieces

→ Dairy

02 - 120 milliliters buttermilk

→ Dry Ingredients

03 - 60 grams all-purpose flour
04 - 60 grams fine yellow cornmeal
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic salt
06 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1 teaspoon paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Oils

09 - 480 milliliters peanut oil (or vegetable oil for frying)

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Slice okra into ½ inch pieces and place in a large bowl.
02 - Add buttermilk, garlic salt, and ground black pepper to the okra. Stir to combine evenly.
03 - In a large sealable plastic bag, combine flour, cornmeal, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. Seal and shake to mix thoroughly.
04 - Add okra to the bag in batches of approximately ¼ cup, allowing excess buttermilk to drip off. Seal and shake to coat each batch evenly with the dry mixture.
05 - Remove coated okra pieces one by one using tongs and place on a wire rack set over a tray to allow excess coating to fall off.
06 - Pour peanut oil into a deep fryer or heavy pot to reach 2 inches deep. Heat oil to 375°F (190°C).
07 - Fry okra in batches of about 12 pieces for 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
08 - Remove okra with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
09 - Serve immediately with ranch dressing or preferred dipping sauce.

# Helpful Hints:

01 - For best results, use fresh okra and ensure it is thoroughly dried to achieve a crispier texture.
02 - Frozen okra may be used if fully thawed and patted dry before coating.