Southern Fried Okra in Air Fryer

Crispy, Crunchy fried Okra is a southern favorite fried recipe. Summers are incomplete without a batch of these beautifully crispy Fried Okras. Be it for Barbeque Cookouts or any Summer Party, you will find this dish made in every southern home, at least once during the summers.

Making this classic Southern Fried Okra in the Air Fryer is a healthy alternative. You skip out on all the oil and of course, the mess from deep-frying cornmeal dredges Okras.

Air Fryer Fried Okras, retain the same taste and texture as would a deep-fried Okra. In fact, these are a little crispier, since they are air-fried for a long time, and hence it's super crunchy on the outside while being soft and tender on the inside.

Don't let the Summers pass by without making this recipe at least once. This is so easy to make and is so special. We love the crispy exterior of Okras.

Southerners surely have the best recipes of all. Of course, it's so famous and loved by everyone. And I was fortunate enough to live in Phoenix for a few days and pick up some of the favorite Southern recipes from my friends there. And trust me, it's one of the best recipes I have ever tasted and made...!

This Southern Fried Okra is a simple definition of Southern Comfort Food. It's purely comforting and tweaking the recipe a lot to give it a modern makeover will definitely show its effects on the taste of these Fried Okras.

Sure no one wants to tweaks the taste of a Southern classic and that's how it should be. However, a little appliance switch will not harm the taste, but rather increase the nutritional value of this recipe. And hence I chose to make these Southern Fried Okras in the Air Fryer and I was more than impressed with the results.

Other favorite Southern recipes

• Southern Smothered Sour Cream Chicken
• Southern Peach Cobbler
• Broccoli Rice Casserole
• Vegan Southern Black Eyed Peas
• Southern Ginger Molasses Cookies
• Crispiest Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken Recipe with Buttermilk
• Southern Creamed Corn
• Southern Buttermilk Ranch Mashed Potatoes
• Southern Sweet Potato Cobbler
• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
• Southern Fried Corn
• Southern Fried Apples with Vanilla Ice Cream & Salted Caramel Drizzle

This Cornmeal and Buttermilk dredged Okras, crisps up like a dream in the Air Fryer. Also, they are really crunchy without being oily. And I mean, crunchy like you bite and the next person would hear the crunch kind-a crunchy!!! Now, that's something right!!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Cooking Variations
• How to make Keto Fried Okra
• Storage
• How to use frozen Okra?
• Why is my Okra slimy?
• Tips To Keep Okra From Getting Slimy
• RECIPE
• Southern Fried Okra in Air Fryer
• Cooking Variations
• How to make Keto Fried Okra
• Tips To Keep Okra From Getting Slimy

Ingredients

• Cornmeal
• Flour
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Buttermilk
• Fresh Okra
• Olive Oil

If you do not have buttermilk, just combine 1 teaspoon of Cider Vinegar or Lemon Juice with 1/2 cup of milk and let it stand for 5 minutes. This will be your DIY Buttermilk.

See the recipe card for quantities. Also, watch the video for a quick visual.

Instructions

STEP 1: CHOP THE OKRAS

• Wash and Rinse the Fresh Okras and dry them dry using a paper towel or kitchen towel
• Cut the Okras. Chop off the stem and tip of the Okras. Cut the Okras into 1/2 inch slices.

STEP 2: MAKE CORNMEAL MIXTURE

• Combine Cornmeal with Flour, Garlic powder, Cayenne pepper, Salt and Pepper. Place this mixture in a shallow bowl
• Also, keep the buttermilk in a shallow bowl
• Set up a dredging station with all the three bowls on a table.

STEP 3: DREDGE THE OKRAS

• Dredge the Okras. Start by dipping them in buttermilk and then coat with the Cornmeal mixture. Shake and Dust off the excess.
• Place the Dredged Okras in the air fryer
• Brush with some olive oil on top

• Cook @400F or 200C for 15 minutes. Then again toss and air fry @400F or 200C for 7 minutes.

Serve with creamy ranch dressing and enjoy.

Remember that every air fryer works differently. You need to check if your Air Fryer requires preheating. If it does, then Preheat before you cook these Okras.

Hint: I like to cook these Okras in the Air fryer twice. Cooking them twice gives them extreme crispiness and tastes just like they have been deep-fried in hot oil, only that they haven't been and are still so tasty!

Cooking Variations

• DEEP-FRIED OKRA

You can obviously make Southern Fried Okra the traditional way and skip making it in the air fryer

After you've dredged the Okras, fry them in hot oil until crispy and golden brown. Do not crowd the pan while cooking the Okras. Cook them in batches.

Remove the Okras from the hot oil using a slotted spoon and place on parchment paper, so that the excess oil gets soaked out. Serve with ranch dressing or any dip of your choice.

• FRIED OKRA WITHOUT CORNMEAL

You can easily skip Cornmeal and just make this recipe using All-Purpose flour.

• FRIED OKRA WITH EGGS

For a fluffy and crispy coating, you can break in eggs in the buttermilk bowl, mix them together using a fork and dip the Okras in the egg buttermilk mixture and then again in the cornmeal mixture and then fry them.

• FIRECRACKER FRIED OKRA

After air frying the Okras, toss them in Firecracker sauce and serve. This will give these okras a wonderful Asian twist.

• PECAN CRUSTED FRIED OKRA

Combine Pecan crumbs with the Cornmeal mixture and coat the Okras with it and then fry them, either in the Air Fryer or on the Stovetop.

• SPICY FRIED OKRA

To make it a little spicy, you can add hot sauce and cayenne pepper in the buttermilk mixture and then use it to coat the Okras.

How to make Keto Fried Okra

To make a Keto and GF Version, replace Cornmeal and Flour with Almond Flour and also add some parmesan cheese for the burst of flavor and taste.

Vegan Fried Okra

To make a vegan version of this southern classic recipe, just replace Buttermilk with Almond Milk or Soy Milk. It will be awesome. You won't notice any difference in taste.

Storage

You can easily store these fried Okras, only if you're able to save some. Honestly, for me, it's almost next to impossible to resist myself from stuffing my face with fried Okras every often and within minutes of making this, it's over!

On a serious note, Yes, You can store these fried Okras. Store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or store them in the freezer for 6 months.

You can reheat them in the Air Fryer or in the oven at full power for 1-2 minutes.

How to use frozen Okra?

You need to thaw the frozen Okra in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter. However, the Okras shall be wet after thawing so it is very important that you dry them out by dabbing a kitchen towel or paper towel.

Why is my Okra slimy?

Well, Okra has a tendecy to get slimy. In fact, that's the reason why my kids hate Okra. However, if you are able to remove the slime, this turns into the most loved veggie. Trust me, I am talking from my personal experience here.

Tips To Keep Okra From Getting Slimy

Just wash the Okras and dry them completely, by dabbing them with a kitchen towel. Once you wash and dry the Okras, they will no longer be slimy.

Also, another trick is to cut these only when you're about to use them.

Another trick is to just apply some oil or lemon juice in your hands to keep off the slime of Okras.

Another trick is to just dust the Chopped Okras with some AP Flour in a colander and then use them. This way the flour will soak out the excess moisture and all the slime would be gone. You can directly dip these in the buttermilk mixture and then dredge with cornmeal and deep fry.

OTHER AIR FRYER RECIPES

• Jalapeño Poppers in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Eggplant Fries
• Extra Crispy Popcorn Shrimp
• Orange Tofu (in Air Fryer)
• Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges in Air Fryer
• Parmesan Zucchini Fries in Air Fryer
• Keto Cauliflower Tater Tots

I hope you liked this recipe and shall make it soon. If you happen to make this recipe then comment below and rate this recipe. Also, tag me with #recipemagik on Instagram.

RECIPE