Crispy Gluten-free Fried Okra
This gluten-free crispy fried okra is a classic southern side dish recipe that is perfect for all your summer BBQs.
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Okra Cut
- 1 ½ Cups Buttermilk
- 1 Cup Cornmeal
- ⅓ Cup Coconut Flour
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ Teaspoon Cayenne or Chili Powder
- Oil for Frying
Instructions
Prep the Okra.
- If you are using fresh okra, trim the tips and slice the okra into rounds. Place the cut okra into a shallow bowl. If you are using already cut frozen okra, place it into a shallow bowl.1 Pound Okra
Soak the okra.
- Pour the buttermilk over the okra and let it marinate for about 15-20 minutes.1 ½ Cups Buttermilk
Bread the okra.
- In a separate shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, coconut flour, and spices.1 Cup Cornmeal, ⅓ Cup Coconut Flour, 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt, ¼ Teaspoon Cayenne or Chili Powder, ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Place the soaked okra pieces into the cornmeal mixture to coat.
- Let the pieces of breaded okra rest while you warm up the oil.Oil for Frying
Fry the okra.
- In a skillet, warm up the oil of choice. I find okra gets the crunchiest at a high temperature, so I set my oil about 400 degrees.
- Working in batches, place the breaded okra into the oil. Gently move the pieces of the okra around until all sides of the okra are golden and crispy.
- Transfer the fried okra to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up any excess grease while you finish frying the rest of the okra.
Enjoy!
- Sprinkle the gluten-free fried okra pieces with a little bit of extra salt and enjoy it by itself or dip it in some ketchup.
Notes
What is the best kind of okra for making fried okra?
You can use fresh or frozen okra for making fried okra. It really doesn't matter. I do find that cut okra does fry better than whole okra. However, make sure you are not slicing it too thin. Thin cut okra can become more slimy. I like the okra to be cut into about ½ inch size pieces. If you are using fresh okra, make sure to cut it right before you are going to make it, and make sure you rinse and thoroughly dry the okra.
Can you fry okra while frozen?
Yes, you can fry okra while it is still frozen. I tend to toss it in the buttermilk while it's still frozen, and it works every time.
How do you fry okra without the slime?
Soaking the okra pieces in buttermilk helps to reduce the slimy texture that can be present. The acid in the buttermilk helps to break down the fiber in the okra. Frying the okra at a higher temperature also helps.
Nutrition
Calories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 7gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 665mgPotassium: 397mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 675IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 133mgIron: 1mg
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