Whole Fried Okra Food

WHOLE FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup of flour in a large zip top bag. Add a large pinch of salt and pepper.
• Whisk together the eggs and buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk together flour, cornmeal, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper in a pie plate.
• Trim the stem end of each okra pod a little.Place okra in the ziptop bag with flour. Shake to coat.Coat the okra in egg mixture and then coat in flour/cornmeal mixture.
• Heat oil or shortening in a Dutch oven until it reaches 360 degrees.
• Working in batches, fry okra until golden on all sides, about 2 to 3 minutes. Place on a paper towel-lined plate.Season lightly with salt and serve.

FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Add the tomato paste, garlic, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 5 ounces of water to a medium saucepan. Stir to combine. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until fragrant and just starting to boil, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Combine the cornmeal, flour, dried basil, garlic powder, dried mustard, cayenne pepper and dried thyme in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
• Add 2 cups water to a medium pot over medium-high heat. Place a 10-inch bamboo steamer over the pot. Working in batches, add the okra, cover and steam until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
• Pour enough vegetable oil into a medium, heavy-bottomed pot to reach 3 inches deep. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches a temperature of 365 degrees F.
• Dip each piece of okra into the tomato paste mixture and then roll in the cornmeal mixture. Working in batches, fry the okra until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Season the fried okra with 1 teaspoon of salt. Place on a serving platter with lemon wedges if using.

FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with enough oil to reach 2 inches up the sides of the pot. Heat oil to 360 degrees F.
• Thinly slice okra lengthwise. In batches, fry okra in the hot oil until edges turn golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Place okra on a serving platter. Fry sage leaves in a single batch until crisp and nearly translucent, about 1 minute. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. When cool enough to handle, crumble sage leaves over okra and serve warm or at room temperature.

OVEN FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Combine corn meal, salt and pepper.
• Wash okra; drain.
• Trim ends and cut into 1/2 inch slices.
• Dredge in corn meal mixture to coat well.
• Okra should be moist in order for corn meal to adhere.
• If necessary, rinse okra again in water before dredging.
• Spread okra in a single layer in prepared pan.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally.

PAN-SEARED OKRA WITH BACON

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large cast-iron skillet until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove to paper towels to drain, reserving the drippings in the skillet.
• Add the okra to the drippings in the skillet. Add the canola oil if the skillet is dry. Sprinkle with the House Seasoning, and toss to coat. Saute until crispy and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Squeeze the juice from the lemon over the top of the okra. Crumble the bacon over the top and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper. Serve right from the skillet.
• Stir together the garlic and onion powders, paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

OVEN FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Wash okra and drain. Remove tips and stem ends. Cut okra crosswise into 1/2 inch slices.
• Combine egg and buttermilk. Add okra, stirring to coat well. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a zip-top plastic bag.
• Drain okra. With small portions at a time, using a slotted spoon, place okra in bag with cornmeal mixture, shaking gently to coat.
• Brush oil on a 15x10x1 inch jellyroll pan; add okra in a single layer.
• Coat okra with cooking spray and bake in a 450 degree oven for 8 minutes. Stir well and spray with cooking spray again; baking 8 additional minutes. After last baking, broil 4 inches from heat (with electric oven door partially opened) 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally.

SIMPLE FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• Slightly beat egg with fork in medium-sized bowl.
• Pour okra into bowl and mix until coated well with egg.
• Add flour and mix well.
• Preheat skillet on medium-high until hot then add enough oil to coat bottom of pan.
• Shake off excess flour from okra then carefully add to skillet. Flip over okra every few minutes, watching carefully so it does not burn on the bottom.
• When golden brown, drain okra on paper towels. Immediately sprinkle with salt and freshly-ground pepper.
• Enjoy!