Fried Okra
Missy Tippens
Yes, folks, you read that title right. Today you're going to have to try to make fried okra! Okay, I know some of you are thinking it's slimy and gross. But I promise you it is NOT slimy if you fry it. So please humor The Belle and give this a try!
You'll need:
FRESH okra (thank you to the McDonalds for sharing their harvest at the church office!)
Buttermilk (I didn't have any so used a little lemon juice to "sour" half & half
Buttermilk Cornbread mix (or some kind of cornbread mix--which contains cornmeal and flour)
Vegetable oil (I use canola)
salt and pepper
Heat oil in a skillet on medium to medium-high heat.
Meanwhile, rinse and dry the okra. Cut the ends off, then evenly slice into bite sized pieces.
Put buttermilk into a bowl and cornmeal mix on a plate.
Generously salt and pepper the cornmeal mix.
Dip a handful of okra into the milk.
Shake off excess.
Then toss it in the seasoned cornmeal mix.
Fling a bit of the cornmeal into the skillet to see if it's ready (it'll sizzle).
Transfer the coated okra to the hot skillet in a single layer, working quickly and in batches so you don't over-fill the skillet.
Here's batch one. Flip when it's golden to cook the other side. Or if you're not picky about how evenly it cooks, you can just kind of stir it around.
Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on a plate with paper towels.
Salt to taste.
Adjust heat as needed to prepare the second batch (Oil had gotten pretty hot, so I turned it down).
Cook batch two...
An then remove to a second layer of paper towels. Oh, and try not to eat the first batch while the second batch cooks!
Oh, you say you wouldn't have thought to do that?? Oops. I guess I'm guilty as charged! :)
YUM! Any Belle worth her salt can cook this. I challenge you to give it a try!
Missy
Visit The Belle at www.MissyTippens.com
Yummy! I've never fried okra before, probably because we don't have it fresh here. I've seen it in cans, though!
ReplyDeleteOkra is one of those foods that separates the Yankees from the Belles. I think you have to be born in the south to appreciate it! LOL!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I've never met an okra I could eat. Even fried.
BUT, that doesn't mean this is a wasted post for me! Instead of okra, I could do onion petals or rings, or mushrooms (yum!), or zucchini spears!
Now, doesn't that sound yummy? :)
I've never tasted okra, but I love everything else FRIED!!!! It's so stinkin' delicious! Missy, I'll substitute my eggplant and summer squash... I could just sit and eat a plate full!!!!
ReplyDeleteVirginia and Ruthy, I cannot believe you haven't had friend okra!!! Do y'all not have Cracker Barrel restaurants where you live?
ReplyDeleteJan, I just bought a zucchini! I may do that. :)
Nope, no Cracker Barrel! And no Chik-Fil-A. And no Panera. All those places people pledge their undying love to... we don't have anything like it! Sad...
DeleteOh, also no Hobby Lobby. Someday I'm going to take a trip around the Us and visit all the stores my friends post about.
DeleteVirginia, you don't?! Bless your heart. ;) Yes, you'll have to come south for a visit.
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