Fried Okra
Fried okra is a classic southern dish. It is a crispy and addicting easy snack or appetizer recipe. A cajun dipping sauce gives it the perfect amount of kick!
I think Okra kind of gets a bad rap. Sometimes when I ask if people like it, I get funny faces and then responses like “But it’s slimy”. And slimy is not really something that you want associated with food. And while Okra can be kind of slimy if it’s not cooked right, fried okra, in all of it’s crispy fried goodness, is down right addicting.
We’re talking “popping it in your mouth like it’s popcorn” addicting. It’s right up there in the “can’t stop eating this” category with my crunchy jalapeno bites.
How do you make fried okra?
For this fried okra recipe, I used frozen okra. Frozen okra seems to be a little bit easier to find in my neck of the woods. My grocery store carries the fresh stuff every once in a blue moon, but for the most part, frozen is where I have to turn. If you have to use frozen okra too, just make sure that you thaw it first. After you have thawed the okra you simply dredge the okra in flour, dip it in buttermilk and finally in a seasoned panko bread crumb mixture.
Next comes the breading. Traditionally fried okra is made with a cornmeal breading. And while it was good, when it comes to frying things, I am always a huge fan of panko bread crumbs. Panko gives everything just the right amount of crunch.
What do you dip fried okra in?
Let’s talk about the dipping sauce shall we? Every good fried snack has got to have a dipping sauce! Fried Okra is pretty great on it’s own but for this recipe, I made a creamy cajun dipping sauce to serve along side.
Talk about addicting. It’s creamy, spicy and perfect for the fried okra. You can use any cajun seasoning that you like. Just keep in mind that some of them have salt and some don’t. I am currently in love with this cajun blend (affiliate link). This blend does have salt so you may not need any additional salt for seasoning.
Also, I’ve made this dip a few times now and while this recipe calls for sour cream, I have actually also made it with a greek yogurt base. If you are looking for a little bit of a lighter dip then I suggest using that. It is a great substitute!
Fried Okra Recipe
Fried Okra:
- 3 cups sliced okra, thawed if frozen
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cajun seasoning (optional)
- oil for frying
Cajun Dipping Sauce:
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- salt to taste
Instructions
Set up an assembly line: Place flour on a plate. Pour buttermilk in a bowl. Combine panko bread crumbs, garlic, salt and cajun seasoning together on another plate.
Dredge the okra in the flour. Dip the the buttermilk, let excess drip off. Dredge okra in panko bread crumb mixture. Repeat until all okra is coated.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1/2 inch oil to 350 degrees. Once oil reaches temperature, fry orka, in batches if necessary until golden brown. About 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer okra to a paper towel lined plate. Sprinkle with salt.
To make dipping sauce whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise and cajun seasoning. Season to taste with salt.
Serve okra with dipping sauce.
Notes
Enjoy!
Nutrition information
Amount per serving: Fried Okra without Dipping Sauce
Calories: 386 , Total Fat: 3.9g , Saturated Fat: 1.1g , Cholesterol: 2mg , Sodium: 763mg , Carbohydrates: 71.8g , Fiber: 5.7g , Sugar: 7.6 , Protein: 14.1
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Donna
February 4, 2019 at 1:06 amOk I have definitely been one of those ‘isn’t it slimy’ people for years now…this has definitely convinced me to give okra another try! Looks amazing
Tammy
February 3, 2019 at 10:16 amI’ve never had fried orka before but these look and sound amazing especially with that dip! :D
Marisa Franca
February 3, 2019 at 9:43 amThis is our type of dish — although we haven’t fried okra we’ve done enough green tomatoes. Those are our special treat. We’ll have to try out the okra. Like you, we don’t find fresh too often around here. It sounds delicious.
Nicole
February 3, 2019 at 5:52 amI am not a fan of okra in any form, but these look so crispy and delicious. Also, I’m looking at your habanero sauce video and it looks like it can do some serious heat damage. It looks good though.
Jenni LeBaron
February 2, 2019 at 2:29 pmThis looks like such a fun recipe and I love the kick from the cajun seasoning. I would probably eat these like popcorn!
Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
February 2, 2019 at 11:32 amFried okra is a favorite of mine and you can find it everywhere in the south! The hubs always asks me to make them, especially for game day. I might just have to whip up a batch for the big game tomorrow. So sad to see the Saints didn’t make it, though.
Krista Price
February 1, 2019 at 11:19 amWhenever I’m driving home (to DC) from the Eastern Shore during the summer months I try to stop at as many produce stands as possible and there’s always so much okra at each stand! I never buy any because I’ve never cooked with it before, so I’m glad I found this recipe! I’m going to pin this recipe for the next time I have plenty of okra!
Veena Azmanov
February 1, 2019 at 2:05 amI have not had fried okra in years. My mom used to make some. This looks so deliciously crisp. Love how golden they’ve been fried. Now I want to make some.
Denise
January 31, 2019 at 8:32 amI have never tried fried okra, but I always hear how good it is. Your recipe is simple and sounds great, I will have to try it!
Eva
January 30, 2019 at 11:15 pmI came across okra for the first time a couple of years ago when a Turkish friend introduced it to me. I had no idea about this vegetable before – I come from Italy and that was something I had never seen anywhere in my country. I had a chance to taste it when my Turkish firend used it in soup, but never tried my hand at actually using it in my own cooking experiment. This crunchy recipe sounds more appealing than soup :)
Aleta
January 30, 2019 at 7:13 amOh yum this looks absolutely delicious! I love your choice of dipping sauce to pair with these, cajun seasoning is one of y favourites. This is a must try for sure!
Sherri
January 29, 2019 at 2:11 pmI’ve never had fried okra before but it looks delicious! Love the sound of the cajun dipping sauce too! Definitely a must-try!
Krista
March 26, 2018 at 8:22 pmI am going to have to try this out! Love it!
Karlynn
March 26, 2018 at 11:58 amOne of my all time favorites!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
March 25, 2018 at 4:04 amThese looks incredible! So perfect!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet
March 24, 2018 at 7:58 pmSuch crispy perfection, these sound yummy!
Nutmeg Nanny
March 24, 2018 at 4:00 pmThis would definitely go fast in my house!
Catalina
March 24, 2018 at 1:46 pmThe perfect appetizer! Looks so tasty!
Serene @ House Of Yumm
August 25, 2016 at 5:47 amHow fun!! I love fried okra. Pure comfort!
Laura / I Heart Naptime
August 23, 2016 at 9:07 amWhat a delicious southern comfort food!
Miryam, Eat Good 4 Life
August 23, 2016 at 5:41 amI love okras but I still have not seen it in the store. I would love to make something like this. Perfect as an appetizer. It looks great!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
August 23, 2016 at 3:53 amI’m all about panko, too! These look SO good. Wish we had okra here!
Michelle @ The Complete Savori
August 22, 2016 at 10:33 pmI agree okra doesn’t get the love it deserves. This recipe would change peoples minds I can tell.
Michelle Nahom
August 22, 2016 at 7:34 pmI can never find fresh okra here, but I love it. I buy frozen to cook with, but I’ve never made fried okra. I know I’d love it though. I can’t wait to try this!
The Chunky Chef .
August 22, 2016 at 6:17 pmIt’s crazy, I’ve never had fried okra before! But this looks amazing :D