This fried okra recipe is fresh sliced okra coated in buttermilk and a seasoned cornmeal mixture, then deep fried to golden brown perfection. A classic side dish or appetizer option that’s easy to make and totally delicious!

When I’m looking to serve up some traditional Southern recipes, I make Hoppin’ John, Southern cornbread dressing, fried cabbage and this ultra crispy fried okra.

A serving plate of fried okra garnished with parsley.

In my opinion, okra is an underutilized ingredient. My favorite way to enjoy this vegetable is to serve it as fried okra. I love the crispy coating with the tender interior and that delicious flavor!

Fried okra is one of my favorite fried appetizer recipes along with fried pickles, fried zucchini and fried shrimp.

Fried Okra Ingredients

To make fried okra you will need okra, buttermilk, flour, cornmeal, salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, vegetable oil and parsley.

Okra pods on a sheet pan.

How Do You Make Fried Okra?

The first step to make fried okra is to prepare the okra by cutting off the stem ends and slicing it up. Next toss the sliced okra in a bowl of buttermilk until the slices are completely coated. The buttermilk coated slices get dredged in a bowl of flour, yellow cornmeal, salt and spices. Batches of the okra slices go into hot oil for a few minutes until cooked through and golden brown. Set the cooked okra on paper towels to drain. Serve them hot and add a sprinkle of parsley for garnish.

Sliced okra in a bowl of buttermilk.

Tips For The Perfect Fried Okra

  • Be sure to stir the okra occasionally as it fries to make sure that the okra cooks evenly and doesn’t stick together.
  • Look for similar sized okra pods so that all the okra slices take about the same time to cook. I use okra pods that are about 3 inches long.
  • Use a spider skimmer or slotted spoon to remove the cooked okra while letting the oil drain.
  • Be sure to use a frying thermometer to make sure that your oil is at the correct temperature. If the oil is too hot, the okra can burn. If it’s too cold, the okra will absorb excess grease and have a heavy texture.

Quick Tip

Fresh okra works best in this recipe. Frozen okra is typically mushy when thawed and will not hold up well when fried.

Breaded okra slices on a sheet pan.

Recipe FAQs

What is fried okra made of?

Fried okra consists of sliced okra pods coated in buttermilk and dredged in a flour, cornmeal and seasoning mixture. After a quick dip in hot oil, it is ready to eat.

People grow okra in warm, wet climates for the edible seed pods. It is popular food in the southern region of the United States. People use okra in stews and gumbo not only as a vegetable, but as a thickener. It is also popular to pickle this vegetable.

How do you cook okra so that it is not slimy?

Okra can be slimy after you cut it. However, with fried okra a slimy texture is not an issue. The okra in this recipe goes into a buttermilk bath and you coat it with flour and cornmeal which minimizes the slime. The veggie fries up golden and crispy.

For other recipes involving okra, you can reduce the sliminess by drying okra before slicing and cooking it or cooking the okra with lemon juice, vinegar or other acidic ingredients.

What are the health benefits of okra?

Okra is full of vitamins such as vitamins C, K and A. Okra also contains magnesium and folate. Plain okra is a low calorie food and is low in carbs. Frying of course increases the calories and carbs. Okra also contains antioxidants which may help with with cancer prevention.

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Fried okra on a sheet pan, garnished with chopped parsley.

Fried Okra Variations

This recipe makes delicious, crispy fried okra, however you can change the flavor to suit your own taste.

Fried okra is a delicious Southern dish that is great as a side dish or as an appetizer. Once you try it, you won’t be able to stop eating it!

More Side Dish Recipes You’ll Enjoy

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Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

5 from 21 votes

Fried Okra

AuthorSara Welch
A serving plate of fried okra garnished with parsley.
This fried okra recipe is fresh sliced okra coated in buttermilk and a seasoned cornmeal mixture, then deep fried to golden brown perfection. A classic side dish or appetizer option that's easy to make and totally delicious!
Time
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Serves 6

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound fresh okra pods
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley optional

Instructions 

  • Heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot to 375 degrees F.
  • Remove the stem ends of the okra. Slice each okra pod into 3/4 inch thick pieces.
  • Place the okra slices in a bowl along with the buttermilk; toss to coat evenly.
  • Place the flour, cornmeal, salt, paprika garlic powder and pepper in a medium sized bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Dredge each piece of okra in the flour mixture, making sure it's coated evenly. Repeat the process with the remaining okra pieces.
  • Fry 10 pieces of okra at a time for 3 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Sprinkle with parsley if desired, then serve.

Notes

  1. Be sure to stir the okra occasionally as it fries to make sure that the okra cooks evenly and doesn’t stick together.
  2. Look for similar sized okra pods so that all the okra slices take about the same time to cook. I use okra pods that are about 3 inches long.
  3. Be sure to use a frying thermometer to make sure that your oil is at the correct temperature. If the oil is too hot, the okra can burn. If it’s too cold, the okra will absorb excess grease and have a heavy texture.
  4. Fresh okra works best in this recipe. Frozen okra is typically mushy when thawed and will not hold up well when fried.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 1227mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Outstanding! This one really sings, and it’s going in the Master File. Followed the recipe exactly as written.. Went for the deep golden brown.. Had to use a spatula to keep ‘busy hands’ away until it was time to serve!

  2. Where in Canada are you that you can’t find buttermilk? Just curious. I live in Ontario and it’s in every grocery store I’ve ever shopped in.

    1. You can make buttermilk with 3/4 cup of whole milk and 2 tbs of white vinegar. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe was fabulous and made me feel like a teenager back in Florida. It was also very easy to make- I used frozen precut okra. I will definitely make this one again! Thanks!