Summer is almost here and that means it is time to make Spicy Fried Okra Nuggets. These tiny bites of deliciousness have earned their name of Southern popcorn because once you start eating them, you can not stop. These golden brown fried pieces of heaven are perfect as a snack, side dish for dinner or for a picnic. It doesn’t matter when you serve them, you are going to love them.
Whenever summer comes around the craving for spicy fried okra is strong. Fresh from the garden or farmer’s market and into the oil, there is nothing better. I could eat them all summer long. Once you see how easy it is to make, you will never buy frozen fried okra again.
Can Fried Okra Be Frozen
If you want to make a large batch of fried okra or you want to make sure you always have some on hand, you can freeze some of the fried okra and have some for now and some for later. After the fried okra has cooled, you can put it into a freezer bag or an airtight container.
You will want to put parchment paper between the layers unless you are storing them in single serve batches.
When you reheat the Fried Okra, you will want to heat them in the oven or the skillet. Make sure the okra are thawed completely before reheating. If the okra has lost some of its crispiness, you can spray it will a little cooking spray to help it get crispy again. Bake the reheated fried okra for about 8 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Another option for freezing Fried Okra is to freeze them before frying. Batter the okra and take it to all the step before frying. Then freeze the okra on a plate or cookie sheet. Once the pieces are frozen, move them to a freezer bag. This will let you freeze them without losing the breading.
Then bring them out of the freezer to cook. Once they are thawed, fry them as normal. Do not fry them frozen because it will cause the oil to splatter.
Is Fried Okra Gluten Free
Fried okra is not considered gluten free. While it is battered in corn meal, it is also battered in flour. You can replace the flour with a gluten free flour. You want to use a gluten free flour that has a one to one ratio of flour.
What To Dip Fried Okra In
You will be dipping the fried okra in a combination of corn meal and flour and buttermilk as well as seasonings that offer the most amazing flavor.
What Goes With This Okra Recipe
Fried okra will go great with many dishes, for instance, you can serve this with chicken, beef or pork. Whenever I make fried okra, I love to serve it with:
- Barbecue Dry Rub Pork Ribs
- BBQ Bacon Wrapped Kielbasa
- Salisbury Steak in Mushroom Onion Gravy
- Chicken Fried Steak Fingers
Ingredients Needed To Make Spicy Fried Okra Nuggets
- Okra
- Cornmeal
- Flour
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Slap Ya Mama® seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Buttermilk
- Diced jalapenos (I used picked jalapenos)
- Vegetable oil
(Actual measurements are in the recipe card below.)
How To Make Fried Okra
- Heat oil in a cast iron skillet or large frying pan to 350°.
- In a shallow container add buttermilk and diced jalapenos, stir and then add fresh okra. Let soak while oil is heating up.
- Add cornmeal and flour, spices and seasonings to a large gallon size baggie, seal and shake to mix.
- Using a slotted spoon, allowing most of the liquid to drip off, add okra to cornmeal mixture.
- Seal and shake to coat the okra.
- Add about ⅓ of the okra into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes, turning as necessary.
- Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Continue to deep fry the remaining okra.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Optional: hot sauce is also a delicious addition to add to the liquid mixture for a bit more spice.
Try This Delicious Spicy Fried Okra Nuggets Recipe Today
Here are a few more delicious appetizer recipes that can be found on the blog:
- Avocado Bacon Cream Cheese Dip
- Chicken Fried Pork Nuggets
- Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings
- Bacon Wrapped Potato Wedges
Spicy Fried Okra Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb okra, rinsed, cut into ½ pieces
- 1½ cups cornmeal
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama® seasoning
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tbsp diced jalapenos (I used picked jalapenos)
- 2 cups vegetable oil
Instructions
- Heat oil in a cast iron skillet or large frying pan to 350°.
- In a shallow container add buttermilk and diced jalapenos, stir and then add okra. Let soak while oil is heating up.
- Add cornmeal, flour, spices and seasonings into a large gallon size baggie, seal and shake to mix.
- Using a slotted spoon, allowing most of the liquid to drip off, add okra to baggie.
- Seal and shake to coat.
- Add about ⅓ of the okra into the oil and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes, turning as necessary.
- Remove and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Continue cooking the remaining okra.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.
Enjoy, Terri
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