Fried Okra

We went down to see my parents last week and everything in Daddy’s garden was in season! I was in hog heaven!  I love fresh vegetables. It’s very ironic because growing up I was a very picky eater…..allegedly.   Corn and tomatoes and squash…oh my! I love going down to their house in the country. So beautiful and peaceful there. Here’s just a little shot of the few things we brought home.

 

Look at all that goodness! Beautiful!

I have experimented with fried okra and fried green tomatoes with this batch of freshness and was very pleased with the outcome of each. I am most excited about the fried okra though. I always order fried okra if I’m at a restaurant that serves it,  but I’ve never made it at home. Well, I’ve bought it frozen, already battered and fried it, but never from fresh okra, picked from the garden the day before! That’s just crazy talk……well not anymore my friend! Also, when I order and it comes out sliced lengthwise, that’s just another special treat for me. So I had to cut my okra that way in my first attempt at frying okra. Let’s see how I made this picture of beauty come to be…..

 

Ingredients:

 

1 cup Buttermilk

Desired about of fresh okra, sliced

1 cup corn meal

2 tablespoons self-rising flour

Vegetable oil

 

Directions:

 

First of all wash and slice the okra and prepare it for frying. I get so excited by the concept of frying. I rarely fry foods, but I will make an exception any day for okra! I’m so excited! Doesn’t it look pretty sliced this way? Of course you can slice it in rings as well. My Daddy prefers it sliced in rings. You get a better batter to okra ratio that way. I'm not against that idea at all!

 

Turn on pan to medium high to heat oil. I used an iron skillet because they just make everything better. Pour about 1 inch of oil in the pan to make sure you have it deep enough to fry, but not too deep. Now, prepare two shallow bowls. One with the buttermilk and one with the corn meal mixed with the self-rising flour. Add a touch of salt and pepper as well.

 

Dredge the okra in the buttermilk, then coat in the corn meal mixture and place in the hot oil.

 

Let the okra brown on one side, then flip it and get the other side brown. It does not take long. Then  take  out and place on paper towels to soak up some of the excess oil. Keep on going until it is all fried up and looks good enough to eat. While you are busy cooking, be sure to keep an eye on your okra because some people (David) might sneak up and keep sampling.

 

Look at that bubbling pan of heaven!

I was very pleased with my first stab at fresh fried okra! It was delicious. Crispy and full of flavor. Be sure to give this method a try!

Next up......squash blossoms and fried green tomatoes! Stay tuned!